Publications

3805

AbstractPhytoplasmas are obligate cell wall-less prokaryotic bacteria that primarily multiply in plant phloem tissue. Jujube witches’ broom (JWB) associated with phytoplasma is a destructive disease of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.). Here we report the complete ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma ziziphi’ chromosome of strain Hebei-2018, which is a circular genome of 764,108-base pairs with 735 predicted CDS. Notably, extra 19,825 bp (from 621,995 to 641,819 bp) compared to the previously reported one complements the genes involved in glycolysis, such as pdhA, pdhB, pdhC, pdhD, ackA, pduL and LDH. The synonymous codon usage bias (CUB) patterns by using comparative genomics analysis among the 9 phytoplasmas were similar for most codons. The ENc-GC3s analysis among the 9 phytoplasmas showed a greater effect under the selection on the CUBs of phytoplasmas genes than mutation and other factors. The genome exhibited a strongly reduced ability in metabolic synthesis, while the genes encoding transporter systems were well developed. The genes involved in sec-dependent protein translocation system were also identified.The expressions of nine FtsHs encoding membrane associated ATP-dependent Zn proteases and Mn-SodA with redox capacity in the Ca. P. ziziphi was positively correlated with the phytoplasma concentration. Taken together, the genome will not only expand the number of phytoplasma species and provide some new information about Ca. P. ziziphi, but also contribute to exploring its pathogenic mechanism.

Two strains of Gram-negative, anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria, from an abundant but uncharacterized rumen bacterial group of the order ‘Christensenellales’, were phylogenetically and phenotypically characterized. These strains, designated R-7T and WTE2008T, shared 98.6–99.0 % sequence identity between their 16S rRNA gene sequences. R-7T and WTE2008T clustered together on a distinct branch from other Christensenellaceae strains and had <88.1 % sequence identity to the closest type-strain sequence from Luoshenia tenuis NSJ-44T. The genome sequences of R-7T and WTE2008T had 83.6 % average nucleotide identity to each other, and taxonomic assignment using the Genome Taxonomy Database indicates these are separate species within a novel family of the order ‘Christensenellales’. Cells of R-7T and WTE2008T lacked any obvious appendages and their cell wall ultra-structures were characteristic of Gram-negative bacteria. The five most abundant cellular fatty acids of both strains were C16 : 0, C16 : 0 iso, C17 : 0 anteiso, C18 : 0 and C15 : 0 anteiso. The strains used a wide range of the 23 soluble carbon sources tested, and grew best on cellobiose, but not on sugar-alcohols. Xylan and pectin were fermented by both strains, but not cellulose. Acetate, hydrogen, ethanol and lactate were the major fermentation end products. R-7T produced considerably more hydrogen than WTE2008T, which produced more lactate. Based on these analyses, Aristaeellaceae fam. nov. and Aristaeella gen. nov., with type species Aristaeella hokkaidonensis sp. nov., are proposed. Strains R-7T (=DSM 112795T=JCM 34733T) and WTE2008T (=DSM 112788T=JCM 34734T) are the proposed type strains for Aristaeella hokkaidonensis sp. nov. and Aristaeella lactis sp. nov., respectively.

Abstract Autophagy functions in plant host immunity responses to pathogen infection. The molecular mechanisms and functions used by the citrus Huanglongbing (HLB)-associated intracellular bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) to manipulate autophagy are unknown. We identified a CLas effector, SDE4405 (CLIBASIA_04405), which contributes to HLB progression. ‘Wanjincheng’ orange (Citrus sinensis) transgenic plants expressing SDE4405 promotes CLas proliferation and symptom expression via suppressing host immunity responses. SDE4405 interacts with the ATG8-family of proteins (ATG8s), and their interactions activate autophagy in Nicotiana benthamiana. The occurrence of autophagy is also significantly enhanced in SDE4405-transgenic citrus plants. Interrupting NbATG8s-SDE4405 interaction by silencing of NbATG8c reduces Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000ΔhopQ1-1 (Pst DC3000ΔhopQ1-1) proliferation in N. benthamiana, and transient overexpression of CsATG8c and SDE4405 in citrus promotes Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) multiplication, suggesting that SDE4405-ATG8s interaction negatively regulates plant defense. These results demonstrate the role of the CLas effector protein in manipulating autophagy, and provide new molecular insights into the interaction between CLas and citrus hosts.

AbstractStrategies to increase the production rate of chicken for human consumption alter the natural process of microbial colonisation and the nutritional performance of the animal. The lack of sufficient reference genomes limits the interpretation of sequencing data and restrain the study of complex functions. In this study, 43 strains obtained from crop, jejunum and ileum of chicken were isolated, characterised and genome analysed to observe their metabolic profiles, adaptive strategies and to serve as future references. Eight isolates represent new species that colonise the upper gut intestinal tract and present consistent adaptations that enable us to predict their ecological role, expanding our knowledge on the adaptive functions. Molecular characterisation confirmed the classification ofClostridium anaeroviscerissp. nov. (DSM 113860= LMG 32675),Clostridium butanolproducens(DSM 115076= LMG 32878),Ligilactobacillus hohenheimiussp. nov. (DSM 113870= LMG 32876),Limosilactobacillus gallussp. nov. (DSM 113833 =LMG 32623),Limosilactobacillus aviumsp. nov. (DSM 113849= LMG 32671), Limosilactobacillus pullumsp. nov. (DSM 115077 =LMG 32877),Limosilactobacillus digestussp. nov. (DSM113835= LMG 32625) andLimosilactobacillus difficilesp. nov. (DSM 114195= LMG 32875). Strains ofLimosilactobacilluswere found to be more abundant in the crop, whileLigilactobacillusdominated the ileal digesta. Isolates from crop encode a high number of glycosidases specialized in complex polysaccharides compared to strains isolated from jejunum and ileum. These results represent the first approach for the isolation and detection of bacteria from the chicken’s upper digestive tract and describe the functional diversity of bacteria inhabiting these regions, improving the potential handling of chicken microbiota with biotechnological applications.

Appendix 9, Section E of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes provides guidelines on how to form adjectival specific and subspecific epithets that reflect the geographical location where the organism was found or studied. It does not mention ways of naming genera after geographical locations. We here propose emendation of Appendix 9 with the recommendations on how to form such names. Comments on the implementation of the current wording of Appendix 9, Section E are also made.

Abstract Background Phloem limited non-culturable bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) affects the worldwide citrus production through causing citrus Huanglongbing (HLB). Despite the efficient colonization of citrus endophyte in the phloem as same niche as CLas pathogen, citrus microbiome manipulation and recruitment as well as citrus defense mechanisms in the presence of indigenous citrus endophyte against this pathogen are still unknown.Results Endophyte-mediated microbiome manipulation may potentially play a significant role in restoration of disease suppressive endophytic microbiome in vascular pathogen affected diseased plants and positively influence the citrus defense. For this, citrus endophyte Bacillus subtilis L1-21 was introduced in CLas-infected citrus groves for one year and pathogen reduction from 105 to 10 copies/gram/leaves was recorded. Resident bacterial community composition in diseased host dramatically changed after introduction of B. subtilis L1-21 and positive enrichment of certain bacteria was recorded in diseased citrus host. These enrichments were predominantly driven by high and low relative abundance of Bacillus and CLas pathogen respectively, after one year of endophyte application. Moreover, endophyte application resulted in citrus defence gene induction against CLas pathogen and demonstrated key resistance genes (PR-1, PR-4, RPS5, RBOHD) in endophyte-pathogen interaction pathway in infected citrus. Upon introduction of B. subtilis L1-21 in the diseased citrus plants, we identified high level of up-regulated genes (> 2-fold) involved in defense pathway (padj < 0.05) underpinning the fundamental defense mechanisms.Conclusion Thorough evaluation of disease suppressive mechanism of endophyte against pathogen requires further exploration. However, introduction of B. subtilis L1-21 restructured citrus microbiome by regulating key bacterial communities which might help plant to control this pathogen. In addition, we highlight advanced insights regarding activation of multiple disease resistance and secondary metabolites encoding genes in endophyte treated HLB-infected citrus plants showing potential resistance against CLas pathogen. Conclusively, endophyte-mediated manipulation could play decisive role in restoration of microbiome to positively influence the citrus defense.