Publications

3537

AbstractThe bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) causes citrus Huanglongbing disease. Our understanding of the pathogenicity and biology of this microorganism remains limited because CLas has not yet been cultivated in artificial media. Its genome is relatively small and encodes approximately 1136 proteins, of which 415 have unknown functions. Here, we use a high-throughput yeast-two-hybrid (Y2H) screen to identify interactions between CLas proteins, thus providing insights into their potential functions. We identify 4245 interactions between 542 proteins, after screening 916 bait and 936 prey proteins. The false positive rate of the Y2H assay is estimated to be 2.9%. Pull-down assays for nine protein-protein interactions (PPIs) likely involved in flagellar function support the robustness of the Y2H results. The average number of PPIs per node in the CLas interactome is 15.6, which is higher than the numbers previously reported for interactomes of free-living bacteria, suggesting that CLas genome reduction has been accompanied by increased protein multi-functionality. We propose potential functions for 171 uncharacterized proteins, based on the PPI results, guilt-by-association analyses, and comparison with data from other bacterial species. We identify 40 hub-node proteins, including quinone oxidoreductase and LysR, which are known to protect other bacteria against oxidative stress and might be important for CLas survival in the phloem. We expect our PPI database to facilitate research on CLas biology and pathogenicity mechanisms.

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a devastating citrus disease caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). Since its initial outbreak in Guangdong Province, China, it has spread to 10 provinces and caused significant economic losses. Hence, assessing CLas genetic diversity and demographic history is crucial for HLB epidemic prevention and control. In this study, we collected 500 leaf samples of CLas-infected plants from 10 provinces. We performed multi-loci sequence analysis on four gene fragments (omp, DnaA, GroEL, and SDE1) to explore the genetic differentiation and diversity of CLas in China. Our results indicated low nucleotide diversity (0.00005 ± 0.00001) in CLas, with the absence of significant systematic geographic structure in its distribution. Molecular variance analysis revealed predominant (81.7%) genetic variations within the population, with a minor variation (18.3%) occurring between populations as well as Yunnan provinces. In the Fujian population, significant gene exchange occurred with the other nine populations. Significant negative values in Tajima’s D and Fu’s FS neutrality tests indicated historical population expansions. The nucleotide mismatch distribution curve exhibits a single peak pattern, further supporting the expansion events. Our findings hold potential for advancing epidemiological research and providing suggestions for effective strategies to mitigate the spread of CLas and control HLB.

AbstractThe roles of Asgard archaea in eukaryogenesis and marine biogeochemical cycles are well studied, yet their contributions in soil ecosystems are unknown. Of particular interest are Asgard archaeal contributions to methane cycling in wetland soils. To investigate this, we reconstructed two complete genomes for soil-associated Atabeyarchaeia, a new Asgard lineage, and the first complete genome of Freyarchaeia, and defined their metabolismin situ. Metatranscriptomics highlights high expression of [NiFe]-hydrogenases, pyruvate oxidation and carbon fixation via the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway genes. Also highly expressed are genes encoding enzymes for amino acid metabolism, anaerobic aldehyde oxidation, hydrogen peroxide detoxification and glycerol and carbohydrate breakdown to acetate and formate. Overall, soil-associated Asgard archaea are predicted to be non-methanogenic acetogens, likely impacting reservoirs of substrates for methane production in terrestrial ecosystems.One-Sentence SummaryComplete genomes of Asgard archaea, coupled with metatranscriptomic data, indicate roles in production and consumption of carbon compounds that are known to serve as substrates for methane production in wetlands.

ABSTRACTMembers of the “CandidatusAccumulibacter” genus are widely studied as key polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) in biological nutrient removal (BNR) facilities performing enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). This diverse lineage includes 18 “Ca. Accumulibacter” species, which have been proposed based on the phylogenetic divergence of the polyphosphate kinase 1 (ppk1) gene and genome-scale comparisons of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Phylogenetic classification based on the 16S rRNA genetic marker has been difficult to attain because most “Ca. Accumulibacter” MAGs are incomplete and often do not include the rRNA operon. Here, we investigate the “Ca. Accumulibacter” diversity in pilot-scale treatment trains performing BNR under low dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions using genome-resolved metagenomics. Using long-read sequencing, we recovered medium and high-quality MAGs for 5 of the 18 “Ca. Accumulibacter” species, all with rRNA operons assembled, which allowed a reassessment of the 16S rRNA-based phylogeny of this genus and an analysis of phylogeny based on the 23S rRNA gene. In addition, we recovered a cluster of MAGs that based on 16S rRNA, 23S rRNA,ppk1, and genome-scale phylogenetic analyses do not belong to any of the currently recognized “Ca. Accumulibacter” species for which we propose the new species designation “Ca. Accumulibacter jenkinsii” sp. nov. Relative abundance evaluations of the genus across all pilot plant operations revealed that regardless of the operational mode, “Ca. A. necessarius” and “Ca. A. propinquus” accounted for more than 40% of the “Ca. Accumulibacter” community, whereas the newly proposed “Ca. A. jenkinsii” accounted for about 5% of the “Ca. Accumulibacter” community.IMPORTANCEOne of the main drivers of energy use and operational costs in activated sludge processes is the amount of oxygen provided to enable biological phosphorus and nitrogen removal. Wastewater treatment facilities are increasingly considering reduced aeration to decrease energy consumption, and whereas successful BNR has been demonstrated in systems with minimal aeration, an adequate understanding of the microbial communities that facilitate nutrient removal under these conditions is still lacking. In this study, we used genome-resolved metagenomics to evaluate the diversity of the “CandidatusAccumulibacter” genus in pilot-scale plants operating with minimal aeration. We identified the “Ca.Accumulibacter” species enriched under these conditions, including one novel species for which we propose “Ca.Accumulibacter jenkinsii” sp. nov. as its designation. Furthermore, the MAGs obtained for 5 additional “Ca.Accumulibacter” species further refine the phylogeny of the “Ca.Accumulibacter” genus and provide new insight into its diversity within unconventional biological nutrient removal systems.

AbstractCandidatusAltiarchaea are widespread across aquatic subsurface ecosystems and possess a highly conserved core genome, yet adaptations of this core genome to different biotic and abiotic factors based on gene expression remain unknown. Here, we investigated the metatranscriptome of twoCa. Altiarchaeum populations that thrive in two substantially different subsurface ecosystems. In Crystal Geyser, a high-CO2groundwater system in the USA,Ca. Altiarchaeum crystalense co-occurs with the symbiontCa. Huberiarchaeum crystalense, while in the Muehlbacher sulfidic spring in Germany, an artesian spring high in sulfide concentration,Ca. A. hamiconexum is heavily infected with viruses. We here mapped metatranscriptome reads against their genomes to analyze thein situexpression profile of their core genomes. Out of 537 shared gene clusters, 331 were functionally annotated and 130 differed significantly in expression between the two sites. Main differences were related to genes involved in cell defense like CRISPR-Cas, virus defense, replication, and transcription as well as energy and carbon metabolism. Our results demonstrate that altiarchaeal populations in the subsurface are likely adapted to their environment while influenced by other biological entities that tamper with their core metabolism. We consequently posit that viruses and symbiotic interactions can be major energy sinks for organisms in the deep biosphere.(Originality-Significance StatementOrganisms of the uncultivated phylumCa. Altiarchaeota are globally widespread and fulfill essential roles in carbon cycling,e.g., carbon fixation in the continental subsurface. Here, we show that the transcriptional activity of organisms in the continental subsurface differ significantly depending on the geological and microbial setting of the ecosystem explaining many of the previously observed physiological traits of this organism group.)

Maternally inherited obligate endosymbionts codiverge with their invertebrate hosts and reflect their host’s evolutionary history. Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) harbor one obligate endosymbiont, Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum (hereafter Portiera). Portiera was anciently acquired by whitefly and has been coevolving with its host ever since. Uncovering the divergence of endosymbionts provides a fundamental basis for inspecting the coevolutionary processes between the bacteria and their hosts. To illustrate the divergence of Portiera lineages across different whitefly species, we sequenced the Portiera genome from Aleyrodes shizuokensis and conducted a comparative analysis on the basic features and gene evolution with bacterial genomes from five whitefly genera, namely Aleurodicus, Aleyrodes, Bemisia, Pealius, and Trialeurodes. The results indicated that Portiera from Bemisia possessed significantly larger genomes, fewer coding sequences (CDSs), and a lower coding density. Their gene arrangement differed notably from those of other genera. The phylogeny of the nine Portiera lineages resembled that of their hosts. Moreover, the lineages were classified into three distinct genetic groups based on the genetic distance, one from Aleurodicus (Aleurodicinae), one from Bemisia (Aleyrodinae), and another from Aleyrodes, Pealius, and Trialeurrodes (Aleyrodinae). Synonymous and nonsynonymous rate analyses, parity rule 2 plot analyses, neutrality plot analyses, and effective number of codons analyses supported the distinction of the three genetic groups. Our results indicated that Portiera from distant hosts exhibit distinct genomic contents, implying codivergence between hosts and their endosymbionts. This work will enhance our understanding of coevolution between hosts and their endosymbionts.

The methanogenic strain Mx-05T was isolated from the human fecal microbiome. A phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene and protein marker genes indicated that the strain is affiliated with the order Methanomassiliicoccales. It shares 86.9% 16S rRNA gene sequence identity with Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis, the only member of this order previously isolated. The cells of Mx-05T were non-motile cocci, with a diameter range of 0.4–0.7 μm. They grew anaerobically and reduced methanol, monomethylamine, dimethylamine, and trimethylamine into methane, using H2 as an electron donor. H2/CO2, formate, ethanol, and acetate were not used as energy sources. The growth of Mx-05T required an unknown medium factor(s) provided by Eggerthella lenta and present in rumen fluid. Mx-05T grew between 30 °C and 40 °C (optimum 37 °C), over a pH range of 6.9–8.3 (optimum pH 7.5), and between 0.02 and 0.34 mol.L−1 NaCl (optimum 0.12 mol.L−1 NaCl). The genome is 1.67 Mbp with a G+C content of 55.5 mol%. Genome sequence annotation confirmed the absence of the methyl branch of the H4MPT Wood–Ljungdahl pathway, as described for other Methanomassiliicoccales members. Based on an average nucleotide identity analysis, we propose strain Mx-05T as being a novel representative of the order Methanomassiliicoccales, within the novel family Methanomethylophilaceae, for which the name Methanomethylophilus alvi gen. nov, sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Mx-05T (JCM 31474T).