Publications

4483

ABSTRACT The recently discovered seventh order of methanogens, the Methanomassiliicoccales (previously referred to as “ Methanoplasmatales ”), so far consists exclusively of obligately hydrogen-dependent methylotrophs. We sequenced the complete genome of “ Candidatus Methanoplasma termitum” from a highly enriched culture obtained from the intestinal tract of termites and compared it with the previously published genomes of three other strains from the human gut, including the first isolate of the order. Like all other strains, “ Ca . Methanoplasma termitum” lacks the entire pathway for CO 2 reduction to methyl coenzyme M and produces methane by hydrogen-dependent reduction of methanol or methylamines, which is consistent with additional physiological data. However, the shared absence of cytochromes and an energy-converting hydrogenase for the reoxidation of the ferredoxin produced by the soluble heterodisulfide reductase indicates that Methanomassiliicoccales employ a new mode of energy metabolism, which differs from that proposed for the obligately methylotrophic Methanosphaera stadtmanae . Instead, all strains possess a novel complex that is related to the F 420 :methanophenazine oxidoreductase (Fpo) of Methanosarcinales but lacks an F 420 -oxidizing module, resembling the apparently ferredoxin-dependent Fpo-like homolog in Methanosaeta thermophila . Since all Methanomassiliicoccales also lack the subunit E of the membrane-bound heterodisulfide reductase (HdrDE), we propose that the Fpo-like complex interacts directly with subunit D, forming an energy-converting ferredoxin:heterodisulfide oxidoreductase. The dual function of heterodisulfide in Methanomassiliicoccales , which serves both in electron bifurcation and as terminal acceptor in a membrane-associated redox process, may be a unique characteristic of the novel order.

The bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ is associated with zebra chip disease (ZC), a threat to potato production in North America and New Zealand. It is vectored by potato psyllids. Previous studies observed that ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ infection causes potato tubers to undergo ZC-symptom-associated shifts in physiology, such as increased levels of amino acids, sugars, and phenolics. However, little is known about how ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ infections caused by psyllid vector feeding may affect metabolism in potato foliage and stems. This study compared metabolism in potato plants fed upon by ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’-positive psyllids with potato plants not exposed to psyllids. Foliar levels of asparagine, aspartic acid, glutamine, fructose, glucose, sucrose, a ferulic acid derivative, and quinic acid were lower in ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’-inoculated than noninfected plants. However, foliar levels of proline, serine, four phenolic compounds, and most terpenoids were greater in ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’-inoculated than noninfected plants. Upper stem levels of asparagine and aspartic acid, upper and lower stem levels of ellagitannins and most monoterpenoids, and lower stem level of sesquiterpenoids were greater in ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’-inoculated than noninfected plants. These results suggest that many defense-related terpenoid compounds might increase in plants which had psyllids inoculate ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’. This could impact progression and spread of ZC.

A new Gram-staining-positive, non-sporulating, mesophilic, amino acid-degrading anaerobic bacterium, designated strain OTA 102T, was isolated from an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor treating wastewater from cooking tuna. The cells were curved rods (0.6–2.5×0.5 µm) and occurred singly or in pairs. The strain was motile by means of one lateral flagellum. Strain OTA 102T grew at temperatures between 30 and 45 °C (optimum 40 °C), between pH 6.0 and 8.4 (optimum pH 7.2) and NaCl concentrations between 1 and 5 % (optimum 2 %, w/v). Strain OTA 102T required yeast extract for growth. Serine, threonine, glycine, cysteine, citrate, fumarate, α-ketoglutarate and pyruvate were fermented. When co-cultured with Methanobacterium formicicum as the hydrogen scavenger, strain OTA 102T oxidized alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, aspartate, tyrosine, methionine, histidine and asparagine. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain OTA 102T was 41.7 mol%. The main fatty acid was iso-C15 : 0. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain OTA 102T was related to Aminobacterium colombiense and Aminobacterium mobile (95.5 and 95.2 % similarity, respectively), of the phylum Synergistetes . On the basis of phylogenetic, genetic and physiological characteristics, strain OTA 102T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Aminobacterium , Aminobacterium thunnarium sp. nov. The type strain is OTA 102T ( = DSM 27500T = JCM 19320T).

Juncus articulatus L. (Juncaceae) is a species of rush occurring in Eurasia, Canada, and the United States. In 2013, symptoms of “witches'-brooms,” similar to those associated with phytoplasma infection in other plants, were observed on jointleaf rush plants in Lower Silesia (southwest Poland), with some pests feeding on them. Livia junci (Liviinae, Hemiptera) is a small plant-feeding sap-sucking insect that affects monocotyledonous plants. To confirm the presence of phytoplasma in 15 examined plants, total DNA was extracted from 100 mg of inflorescence and leaf samples collected in July 2013 in Bogatynia, Poland, from six symptomatic and six asymptomatic plants using a DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Syngen Biotech, Wrocław, Poland) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Additionally, three leaf samples from asymptomatic rush plants, collected from a location where the disease was not observed (Wrocław, Poland), as well as water blank samples were included as negative controls. Moreover, thirty-two insects were collected from symptomatic plants and preserved in ethanol (75%). DNA from L. junci specimens (the imago and the last larva stage) was extracted using DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit (Qiagen, Syngen Biotech). Extracted nucleic acids were used as templates for PCR employing a) phytoplasma universal rRNA primer pairs P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2 (1), b) primers rp1-rp2 followed by rp3-rp4, allowing amplification of fragments of ribosomal protein rpl22 and rps3 genes (3), and c) primers AYsecYF1/AYsecYR1 (2) for amplification of the secY gene. The phytoplasma was detected in all tested insects as well as in all six symptomatic and four out of six asymptomatic plant samples (10 out of 12 plant samples from Bogatynia were positive). No amplification products were detected in negative control samples from Wrocław or in water blanks. The fact that we detected the pathogen in some asymptomatic plants indicated that a low concentration may have been present prior to the development of disease symptoms. Amplicons representing three genetic loci were sequenced in an AbiPrism 3100 Genetic Analyzer apparatus (Applied Biosystems, USA), at the Maria Skłodowska Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland. To avoid sequencing errors, all DNA samples were sequenced twice in both directions. The obtained sequences were nearly identical, and representative sequences of 16S rDNA fragments (Accession Nos. KF774297, KF774298, and KF774299), secY gene (KJ394481, KJ394482, and KJ394483) and ribosomal protein gene (KJ394484, KJ394485, and KJ394486), isolated from two plants and one insect, were deposited in GenBank. BLAST analysis of the sequenced 16S rDNA fragments revealed that tested strains shared more than 99% sequence identity with the sequences of phytoplasmas from the aster yellows group (e.g., KJ556903, KJ494330, and KJ491100). The same analysis performed for ribosomal proteins and secY genes confirmed the highest identity (99%) of analyzed sequences with those of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ (HM626105 and KC354611, respectively). The impact of the detected phytoplasma in the regional ecosystem and the role of L. junci as a possible vector of this pathogen are being assessed. References: (1) I. M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 48:1153, 1998. (2) I.-M. Lee et al. Mol. Cell. Probes 20:87, 2006. (3) H. Nakamura et al. Plant Dis. 80:302, 1996.

Zebra chip (ZC) is a disease of potato, putatively caused by the vectorborne bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’. Although ZC has been a major concern due its significant negative impact on both potato yield and quality, its effect on seed potato sprouting has been the subject of recent evaluations. The present study was conducted to determine whether variation in emergence is affected by the infection duration of ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’-infected seed potato prior to harvest. Furthermore, changes in pathogen detectability and titer levels in late-season-infected plants also were evaluated during and after cold storage. The rate of ZC-affected seed potato emergence following cold storage was not affected by the time of infection in the field, and the majority of ZC-infected tubers failed to sprout. Time to “seedling” emergence also was significantly longer in seed potato from plants infected ≥2 weeks before harvest. The small percentage of plants that emerged from ZC-affected seed potato produced stunted, nonvigorous plants that often died after a few weeks. The rate of successful ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ detection increased during cold storage, suggesting a continued ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’–tuber interaction postharvest. After tubers were removed from cold storage and held at room temperature, ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ titer started to increase. Although none of the tubers from plants infected 1 week before harvest exhibited any disease symptoms or tested positive for ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ at harvest, up to 38% of these tubers tested positive following placement at room temperature after cold storage. Results of this study suggest that the role of seedborne ZC in disease epidemiology is likely to be insignificant. Furthermore, the findings of this study emphasized the importance of continued control measures until at least a week before harvest, and highlighted the need for improved methods of ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ detection at harvest, especially in tubers infected late in the season.