Article
Microbiology
Justin M. Anast, Andrea J. Etter, Stephan Schmitz-Esser
Summary: Recent research found that some Listeria monocytogenes plasmids play a role in stress survival, but the gene expression patterns of L. monocytogenes plasmids have been less studied. In this study, four stress-response-associated transcriptomic data sets were analyzed, revealing differential gene expression of L. monocytogenes plasmid genes, including cadmium resistance genes and putative ultraviolet resistance gene. Furthermore, the study showed divergent gene expression patterns between different L. monocytogenes plasmids despite identical treatments, suggesting plasmid-specific gene expression responses to environmental stimuli and differential plasmid regulation mechanisms. These findings increase our understanding of the dynamic expression of L. monocytogenes plasmid-encoded genes and highlight the importance of expanding the study of L. monocytogenes plasmid genes' functions.
Article
Microbiology
Chloe Wasendorf, Dylan L. Schultz, Stephan Schmitz-Esser, Nick T. Peters
Summary: The genome sequences and characteristics of two Pseudomonas strains (SR17 and SR18) isolated from soft rot-diseased spinach leaves are reported in this study.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lucas R. Koester, Kris Hayman, Chiron J. Anderson, Bienvenido W. Tibbs-Cortes, Karrie M. Daniels, Faith M. Seggerman, Patrick J. Gorden, Mark Lyte, Stephan Schmitz-Esser
Summary: Mitigating the effects of heat stress on livestock is crucial for their health and performance. One method is to enhance feed palatability by adding artificial sweeteners, although their impact on the rumen microbial communities is not fully understood. This study found that supplementing dairy cattle's diet with a saccharin-based sweetener did not affect their performance during heat stress, but it did lead to changes in the rumen microbial communities. Further research is needed to fully understand the role of artificial sweeteners in mitigating stress conditions for livestock and their effects on microbial communities.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jennah E. Dharamshi, Stephan Koestlbacher, Max E. Schoen, Astrid Collingro, Thijs J. G. Ettema, Matthias Horn
Summary: Extensive gene gain through horizontal gene transfer played a crucial role in the evolution of Chlamydiae, a bacterial phylum composed of obligate animal and protist endosymbionts. Contrary to expectations, genome analysis revealed significant gene gain within Chlamydiae, suggesting that metabolic complexity can increase during endosymbiont evolution. These findings provide additional insights into the evolutionary trajectories of symbionts across different organisms.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Justin Maire, Kshitij Tandon, Astrid Collingro, Allison van de Meene, Katarina Damjanovic, Cecilie Ravn, Sophie Stephenson, Gayle K. Philip, Matthias Horn, Neal E. Cantin, Linda L. Blackall, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
Summary: In this study, coral cell-associated microbial aggregates (CAMAs) were comprehensively characterized, revealing the presence of Endozoicomonas and Simkania bacteria. Endozoicomonas may colonize and aggregate with the host coral using secretion systems and/or pili and potentially provide vitamins. Simkania, on the other hand, may obtain acetate and heme from neighboring Endozoicomonas. This research provides detailed insights into coral endosymbionts, improving our understanding of coral physiology and health, and offering important knowledge for coral reef conservation in the face of climate change.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Tamara Halter, Stephan Koestlbacher, Thomas Rattei, Frederik Hendrickx, Alejandro Manzano-Marin, Matthias Horn
Summary: This study explores a unique system where the dwarf spider Oedothorax gibbosus is co-infected with multiple endosymbionts, including Wolbachia, 'Candidatus Tisiphia', Cardinium, and Rhabdochlamydia. Through genome sequencing, the researchers reconstructed these endosymbiont genomes and analyzed their interactions and evolutionary relationships with the spider host.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Gilbert Greub, Trestan Pillonel, Patrik M. Bavoil, Nicole Borel, Lee Ann Campbell, Deborah Dean, Scott Hefty, Matthias Horn, Servaas A. Morre, Scot P. Ouellette, Yvonne Pannekoek, Mirja Puolakkainen, Peter Timms, Raphael Valdivia, Daisy Vanrompay
Summary: The International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP) rejected the proposal to use gene sequences as type for naming prokaryotes in 2020. Instead, the Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes Described from Sequence Data (SeqCode), which considers genome sequences as type material for naming species, was published in 2022. The taxonomy subcommittee for the phylum Chlamydiae (Chlamydiota) within ICSP believes that using gene sequences as type would be beneficial for the classification of difficult-to-culture microorganisms such as chlamydiae and other intracellular bacteria. They recommend registering new names of uncultured prokaryotes in the SeqCode registry.
NEW MICROBES AND NEW INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Astrid Collingro, Stephan Koestlbacher, Alexander Siegl, Elena R. Toenshoff, Frederik Schulz, Susan O. Mitchell, Thomas Weinmaier, Thomas Rattei, Duncan J. Colquhoun, Matthias Horn
Summary: Chlamydia, including human and animal pathogens like Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia psittaci, are a diverse group of ancient obligate intracellular bacteria. Comparative genome analysis has been used to study the evolutionary transition of chlamydiae from symbionts in eukaryotes to pathogens in humans. However, genome sequence data for many chlamydial lineages are still missing, limiting our understanding of their evolutionary history. Thus, the genome sequence of the fish pathogen Candidatus Clavichlamydia salmonicola provides valuable information for studying the evolution of chlamydial virulence mechanisms.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Bienvenido W. Tibbs-Cortes, Dylan L. Schultz, Stephan Schmitz-Esser
Summary: Accurate and closed genomes for Listeria monocytogenes strains 6179 and L58-55 were generated using Oxford Nanopore and Illumina sequencing. The new assemblies were mostly similar to previous Illumina-based assemblies, but additional rRNA operons and repeat regions were identified in the new assembly for strain 6179.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Salvador Espada-Hinojosa, Clarissa Karthauser, Abhishek Srivastava, Lukas Schuster, Teresa Winter, Andre Luiz de Oliveira, Frederik Schulz, Matthias Horn, Stefan Sievert, Monika Bright
Summary: This study reveals the impact of strict host dependence on genome evolution and host adaptation of a bacterial ectosymbiont. Thiobius has a smaller genome, reduced metabolic capabilities, and fewer functional traits compared to its free-living relative ODIII6. The differences in functional capabilities at the gene, metabolic pathway, and trait levels between Thiobius and ODIII6 illustrate adaptations to different environmental conditions.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
K. Fries-Craft, S. Schmitz-Esser, E. A. Bobeck
Summary: This study developed peptide-specific anti-IL-4 antibodies and evaluated immune cell profiles and the cecal microbiota during Eimeria challenge. The anti-IL-4 did not alter baseline performance but increased the number of PBMC B cells. Eimeria challenge reduced feed intake and body weight gain, and the effects of anti-IL-4 were likely host-specific.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Laura L. Greiner, Dalton C. Humphrey, Shayla N. Holland, C. J. Anderson, Stephan Schmitz-Esser
Summary: This study analyzed colostrum, fecal, and blood samples from sows and found that bacteria were present in all three locations at the time of farrowing, indicating differences in microbial populations between primiparous and multiparous sows.
TRANSLATIONAL ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Tamara Halter, Stephan Koestlbacher, Astrid Collingro, Barbara S. Sixt, Elena R. Toenshoff, Frederik Hendrickx, Rok Kostanjsek, Matthias Horn
Summary: The study investigates the Rhabdochlamydiaceae family, a large and diverse group of chlamydial bacteria that mainly inhabit freshwater and soil environments. The research reveals distinct niches for members of the Rhabdochlamydiaceae, suggesting intermediate stages of adaptation from protist hosts to vertebrate hosts. The study also uncovers genome size reduction and transposase-mediated gene inactivation as a mechanism of genome streamlining during host adaptation.
ISME COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
E. Selberherr, T. Penz, L. Koenig, B. Conrady, A. Siegl, M. Horn, S. Schmitz-Esser
Summary: In this study, the transcriptome of the obligate intracellular amoebae symbiont A. asiaticus was analyzed using RNA sequencing. The results revealed dynamic transcriptional changes throughout different life cycle stages, and highlighted the high abundance of eukaryotic-like proteins (ELPs) in the A. asiaticus genome. The study also identified candidate genes for host cell interaction and provided insights into the intracellular lifestyle of A. asiaticus.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2022)