Publications

4504

A highly salt-tolerant and alkaliphilic syntrophic consortium that degrades butyrate under sulfate-reducing conditions was purified from a hypersaline soda lake in southwest Siberia. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of the syntrophic primary butyrate degrader in order to understand the molecular mechanisms of interaction between consortium members.

The genus Pseudovibrio is commonly associated with marine invertebrates, which are essential for ocean health and marine nutrient cycling. Traditionally, the phylogeny of the genus has been based on 16S rRNA gene analysis. The use of the 16S rRNA gene or any other single marker gene for robust phylogenetic placement has recently been questioned. We used a large set of marker genes from all available Pseudovibrio genomes for in-depth phylogenomic analyses. We identified divergent monophyletic basal lineages within the Pseudovibrio genus, including two strains isolated from polyclad flatworms. These strains showed reduced sulfur metabolism and biosynthesis capacities. The phylogenomic analyses revealed distinct evolutionary trajectories and ecological adaptations that differentiate the divergent strains from the other Pseudovibrio members and suggest that they fall into a novel genus. Our data show the importance of widening the use of phylogenomics for better understanding bacterial physiology, phylogeny, and evolution.

Genome analysis is one of the main criteria for description of new taxa. Availability of genome sequences for all the actinobacteria with a valid nomenclature will, however, require another decade’s works of sequencing. This paper describes the rearrangement of the higher taxonomic ranks of the members of the phylum ‘ Actinobacteria ’, using the phylogeny of 16S rRNA gene sequences and supported by the phylogeny of the available genome sequences. Based on the refined phylogeny of the 16S rRNA gene sequences, we could arrange all the members of the 425 genera of the phylum ‘ Actinobacteria ’ with validly published names currently in use into six classes, 46 orders and 79 families, including 16 new orders and 10 new families. The order Micrococcales Prévot 1940 (Approved Lists 1980) emend. Nouioui et al. 2018 is now split into 11 monophyletic orders: the emended order Micrococcales and ten proposed new orders Aquipuribacterales , Beutenbergiales , Bogoriellales , Brevibacteriales , Cellulomonadales , Demequinales , Dermabacterales , Dermatophilales , Microbacteriales and Ruaniales . Further, the class ‘ Actinobacteria ’ Stackebrandt et al. 1997 emend. Nouioui et al. 2018 was described without any nomenclature type, and therefore the name ‘ Actinobacteria ’ is deemed illegitimate. In accordance to Rule 8 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes, Parker et al. 2019, we proposed the name Actinomycetia which is formed by using the stem of the name Actinomycetales Buchanan 1917 (Approved Lists 1980) emend. Zhi et al. 2009, to replace the name ‘ Actinobacteria ’. The nomenclature type of the proposed new class Actinomycetia is the order Actinomycetales Buchanan 1917 (Approved Lists 1980) emend. Zhi et al. 2009.

Abstract“Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” (Lso) are phloem‐restricted and unculturable Gram‐negative bacteria. Presently five haplotypes have been identified worldwide; but only haplotypes A and B are associated with the vector Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc.) in the Americas. Previous studies showed that Lso‐infection reduces B. cockerelli reproductive output and that Lso haplotype B is more pathogenic than Lso haplotype A. To understand the interaction of Lso haplotype B and B. cockerelli, the fitness of Lso‐free and Lso B‐infected insects, and the expression of vitellogenin (BcVg1‐like), a gene involved directly in the insect reproduction were analyzed. Statistical differences in the number of eggs oviposited, and the total number of progeny nymphs and adults were found among crosses of insects with or without Lso. Significant differences in sex proportions were found between Lso B‐infected and Lso‐free crosses: a higher proportion of F1 adult females were obtained from Lso B‐infected mothers. A significant reduction of BcVg1‐like was observed in crosses performed with Lso B‐infected females compared to the Lso‐free insects. In female cohorts of different age, a significant reduction of BcVg1‐like expression was measured in 7‐d‐old Lso B‐infected females (virgin and mated) compared with 7‐d‐old Lso‐free females (virgin and mated), respectively. The reduction of BcVg1‐like transcript was associated with a lower number of developing oocytes observed in female's reproductive systems. Overall, this study represents the first step to understand the interaction of Lso B with B. cockerelli, highlighting the effect of Lso B infection on egg production, BcVg1‐like expression, and oocyte development.