Publications

4547

ABSTRACT The Oil Refinery (OR) consortium is a model methanogenic enrichment culture used to study anaerobic benzene degradation. Over half of the culture’s bacterial community consists of two closely related Desulfobacterota strains, designated ORM2a and ORM2b, whose mechanisms of benzene activation are unknown. Two new metagenomes, including a complete circularized metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) for ORM2a, enabled a thorough investigation of this culture’s proteome. Among the proteins identified were Bam-like subunits of an ATP-independent benzoyl-CoA degradation pathway, as well as downstream β-oxidation proteins yielding acetate. The most abundant proteins identified mapped to two ORM2a gene clusters of unknown function. Homologous and syntenic gene clusters were identified in genomes of ORM2b and a sulfate-reducing Pelotomaculum that also degrades benzene, as well as in nine contigs assembled from hydrothermal vent metagenomes. Extensive homology and structural predictions suggest that the first cluster – termed the “Magic” gene cluster – encodes for enzymes catalyzing the chemically challenging activation of benzene and subsequent transformation steps yielding benzoyl-CoA. The second (“Nanopod”) gene cluster encodes a transmembrane complex that may facilitate benzene transport across the cell membrane. Phylogenomic analyses place ORM2a and ORM2b within a novel genus of strict anaerobes specialized for benzene degradation, which we propose naming “Candidatus Anaerobenzenivorax”. IMPORTANCE Benzene is a widespread, persistent and toxic pollutant that can accumulate in anoxic environments such as groundwater and sediments. Despite decades of study, the biochemical mechanisms by which benzene is activated under anaerobic conditions remain unproven. This study provides strong genetic and proteomic evidence for a new class of enzymes that initiate anaerobic benzene activation and proposes a preliminary model for their underlying biochemistry. These findings lay a foundation for future biochemical studies and expand our understanding of how microbes carry out extreme redox chemistry in the absence of oxygen.

Psyllids are major vectors of plant diseases, including Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso), the bacterial agent associated with 'zebra chip' disease in potatoes and 'carrot yellows' disease in carrot. Despite their agricultural significance, there is limited knowledge on the genome structure and genetic diversity of psyllids. In this study, we provide chromosome-level genome assemblies for three psyllid species known to transmit CLso: Dyspersa apicalis (carrot psyllid), Dyspersa pallida, and Trioza urticae (nettle psyllid). As D. apicalis is recognised as the primary vector of CLso by carrot growers in Northern Europe, we also resequenced populations of this species from Finland, Norway, and Austria. Genome assemblies were constructed using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C sequencing data, yielding genome sizes of: 594.01 Mbp for D. apicalis; 587.80 Mbp for D. pallida; and 655.58 Mbp for T. urticae. Over 90% of sequences anchored into 13 pseudo-chromosomes per species. The assemblies for D. apicalis and D. pallida exhibited high completeness, capturing over 92% of conserved Hemiptera single-copy orthologues, as assessed by Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologues (BUSCO) analysis. Furthermore, we identified sequences of the primary psyllid symbiont, Candidatus Carsonella ruddii, in all three species. Comparative genomic analyses demonstrated synteny with other psyllid species. Notably, we observed significant expansions in gene families, particularly those linked to potential insecticide detoxification, within the Dyspersa lineage. Resequencing efforts also revealed the existence of multiple subpopulations of D. apicalis across Europe. These high-quality genome resources will support future research on genome evolution, insect-plant-pest interactions, and strategies for disease management.

A hydrogenotrophic methanoarchaeon, designated strain FWC-SCC4T, was isolated from cold seep sediment of Four-Way Closure Ridge, offshore southwestern Taiwan. Strain FWC-SCC4Tutilizes H2/CO2 or formate, but not acetate, secondary alcohols, methylamines, methanol or ethanol for growth and methane production. Yeast extract is required for growth. The cell morphology is coccoid, with a diameter of 0.8–1.2 µm, and the cell envelope is composed of S-layer protein with Mr about 137.00 kDa. Cells possess multiple flagella and usually occur singly. Strain FWC-SCC4T grows at a temperature range of 20–40 °C (optimum 37 °C) and a pH range of 5.4–7.2 (optimum 7.0). The NaCl range for growth is 0–0.86 M (optimum 0.09 M). The result of phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicates that the most closely related species are Methanoplanus limicola M3T and Methanoplanus endosymbiosus MC1T, with similarities of 95.95 and 95.63%, respectively. The G+C content of the genomic DNA is 40.3 mol%. The overall genome-relatedness indexes (OGRIs) and concatenated ribosomal protein (RBP) phylogenic analysis indicate that strain FWC-SCC4T is a novel lineage of Methanomicrobiaceae. In addition to strain FWC-SCC4T, the differences between Methanomicrobium antiquum MobHT and Methanomicrobium mobile BPT demonstrated by comparative analysis of genomic G+C content and phylogenetic analysis with non-type strain genomes are enough to support the establishment of a novel genus. In conclusion, strain FWC-SCC4T (BCRC AR10058T= NBRC 114595T) is proposed as the type strain of Methanochimaera problematica gen. nov., sp. nov., and Methanoeremita antiquus gen. nov., comb. nov. is proposed as the new name for Methanomicrobium antiquum MobHT (=DSM 21220T= NBRC 104160T).

ABSTRACTThe Coxiellaceae bacterial family, within the order Legionellales, is defined by a collection of poorly characterized obligate intracellular bacteria. The zoonotic pathogen and causative agent of human Q fever,Coxiella burnetii, represents the best characterized member of this family. Coxiellaceae establish replicative niches within diverse host cells and rely on their host for survival, making them challenging to isolate and cultivate within a laboratory setting. Here we describe a new genus within the Coxiellaceae family that has been previously shown to infect economically significant freshwater crayfish. Using culture-independent long-read metagenomics, we reconstructed the complete genome of this novel organism and demonstrate that the previously referred to as CandidatusCoxiella cheraxirepresents a novel genus within this family, herein denoted CandidatusParacoxiella cheracis. Interestingly, we demonstrate that CandidatusP. cheracisencodes for a complete, putatively functional Dot/Icm type 4 secretion system that likely mediates the intracellular success of this pathogen. In silico analysis defined a unique repertoire of Dot/Icm effector proteins and highlighted homologues of several importantC. burnetiieffectors including a homologue of CpeB that was demonstrated to be a Dot/Icm substrate inC. burnetii.IMPORTANCEUsing long-read sequencing technology we have uncovered the full genome sequence of CandidatusParacoxiellacheracis, a pathogen of economic importance in aquaculture. Analysis of this sequence has revealed new insight into this novel member of the Coxiellaceae family, demonstrating that it represents a new genus within this poorly characterized family of intracellular organisms. Importantly, the genome sequence reveals invaluable information that will support diagnostics and potentially both preventative and treatment strategies within crayfish breeding facilities. CandidatusP. cheracisalso represents a new member of Dot/Icm pathogens that rely on this system to establish an intracellular niche. CandidatusP. cheracispossesses a unique cohort of putative Dot/Icm substrates that constitute a collection of new eukaryotic cell biology manipulating effector proteins.

AbstractPhytoplasmas can induce complex and substantial phenotypic changes in their hosts in ways that favour their colonisation, but the mechanisms underlying these changes remain largely unknown. Jujube witches' broom (JWB) disease is a typical phytoplasma disease causing great economic loss in Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.). Here, we reported an effector, PHYL1JWB from Candidatus Phytoplasma ziziphi, which implicated in inducing abnormal floral organogenesis. Utilising a combination of in vivo and in vitro methods, we investigated the influence of PHYL1JWB on the proteins associated with floral development. Our findings reveal that PHYL1JWB facilitates the proteasome‐mediated degradation of essential flower morphogenetic regulators, including AP1, SEP1, SEP2, SEP3, SEP4, CAL, and AGL6, through a distinctive pathway that is dependent on the activity of the 26S proteasome, thus obviating the requirement for lysine ubiquitination of the substrates. Further, the Y2H analysis showed that the leucine at position 75th in second α helix of PHYL1JWB is fundamental for the interactions of PHYL1JWB with AP1 and SEP1‐4 in jujube and Arabidopsis. Our research carry profound implications for elucidating the contribution of PHYL1JWB to the aberrant floral development in diseased jujube, and help to establish a robust theoretical underpinning for the prophylaxis and therapy of JWB disease.