Article
Environmental Sciences
Michele Castelli, Olivia Lanzoni, Michele Giovannini, Natalia Lebedeva, Leandro Gammuto, Davide Sassera, Maksim Melekhin, Alexey Potekhin, Sergei Fokin, Giulio Petroni
Summary: This study characterized a novel Holosporales symbiont that inhabits a ciliate host, showing potential lethal effects on host cell division and a heavy dependence on the host. The bacterium's features suggest a mildly parasitic effect on the host, with a trend towards genome reduction and fast evolution. Similar convergent features with other host-associated lineages, such as Rickettsiales among Alphaproteobacteria, were observed.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Vadim Kevbrin, Yulia Boltyanskaya, Veronika Koziaeva, Maria Uzun, Denis Grouzdev
Summary: In this study, a prosthecate bacterial strain G-192T isolated from decaying biomass of a haloalkaliphilic cyanobacterium was characterized by its phylogenetic position within the family Hyphomonadaceae. The strain showed distinct evolutionary lineage and proposed to represent a novel species of a new genus Alkalicaulis satelles gen. nov., sp. nov.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tushar Lodha, Simran Narvekar, Prachi Karodi
Summary: The phylum Planctomycetes is a metabolically unique group of bacteria, with the anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria serving as uncultured representatives. Through phylogenetic analysis, pairwise distance, and Average Amino acid Identity, a new class and family have been proposed to accommodate the classification of anammox bacteria within the phylum.
SYSTEMATIC AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Daniele Giannotti, Vittorio Boscaro, Filip Husnik, Claudia Vannini, Patrick J. Keeling
Summary: The family Candidatus Midichloriaceae is the most diverse but least studied lineage within the order of intracellular bacteria Rickettsiales. They are found in various hosts and show unique features, with independent evolution in important functional traits. The importance of this family provides valuable insights into the symbiotic processes of intracellular bacteria.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Hao Leng, Weishu Zhao, Xiang Xiao
Summary: This study obtained a high-quality metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) of Bacteroidetes VC2.1 Bac22, belonging to a newly named order called Candidatus Sulfidibacteriales. The metabolic reconstruction revealed that VC2.1 can utilize polysaccharides, protein polymers, and fatty acids as carbon sources, and obtain energy through NO/N2O reduction and polysulfide reduction. Furthermore, a new culture medium was designed based on the genome information, successfully isolating VC2.1.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Juan J. Roda-Garcia, Jose M. Haro-Moreno, Lukas A. Huschet, Francisco Rodriguez-Valera, Mario Lopez-Perez
Summary: The SAR116 clade of Alphaproteobacteria is a common group of heterotrophic bacteria in the ocean, but limited information exists about their ecology and genetic diversity due to the challenges of isolating pure cultures. By utilizing single-cell genomics and metagenomics, this study provides insights into the genomic diversity, distribution, and lifestyles within this clade, revealing different evolutionary trajectories in the genetic makeup of its two subclades. These findings highlight the importance of studying microbial evolutionary processes in closely related organisms facing similar environmental pressures.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kady Lyons, Dovi Kacev, Christopher G. Mull
Summary: Understanding mating systems is crucial in behavioural ecology, and recent research has highlighted the active role of females in reproductive processes, challenging traditional views of males as the predominant drivers of mating outcomes. This study contributes to the growing body of work emphasizing the importance of considering female perspectives in studying mating systems.
Article
Microbiology
Xiunuan Chen, Bingxia Dong, Ting Chen, Na Ren, Jing Wang, Ying Xu, Jifang Yang, Sidong Zhu, Jigang Chen
Summary: The bacterial strain 502str22T isolated from sediment in the East Pacific belongs to the genus Novosphingobium as indicated by genetic and phenotypic characterization. It represents a novel species with the proposed name Novosphingobium decolorationis sp. nov.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Diogo N. Proenca, William B. Whitman, Nicole Shapiro, Tanja Woyke, Nikos C. Kyrpides, Paula Morais
Summary: Bacterial strain A52C2T was isolated and characterized from the endophytic microbial community of a Pinus pinaster tree trunk. It belongs to a distinct lineage within the order Hyphomicrobiales, family Pleomorphomonadaceae, and represents a novel species and genus, named Faunimonas pinastri.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Teresa Lucena, Olga Sanchez, Isabel Sanz-Saez, Silvia G. Acinas, Laura Garrido, Jordi Mas, M. Carmen Macian, Maria A. Ruvira, David R. Arahal, Maria J. Pujalte
Summary: Two strains of bacteria isolated from activated sludge in a seawater-based wastewater treatment plant in Spain were found to be potentially new taxa. One strain was distantly related to Vicingus serpentipes and other members of the order Flavobacteriales, while the other strain was a putative new species of Lysobacter. Based on a comprehensive taxonomic analysis, new taxa were proposed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Maripat Xamxidin, Han Dong, Jia-Yan Wang, Wu Qu, Lin Xu, Min Wu
Summary: A new bacterium strain RS5-5(T) was isolated from lake water in northwestern China, which showed rod-shaped and Gram-negative characteristics. Phylogenetic and genomic analysis revealed that strain RS5-5(T) represents a novel species in the genus Parerythrobacter, and it was named Parerythrobacter lacustris sp. nov.
ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Sarah Bello, Syed Huzaifa Mudassir, Bashudev Rudra, Radhey S. Gupta
Summary: This study conducted comprehensive phylogenomic and comparative analyses on organisms from the Staphylococcacae family and Gemella genus to clarify their evolutionary relationships and classification. It was found that Gemella and Staphylococcacae are distinct taxonomic units. By analyzing protein sequences, 120 conserved signature indels (CSIs) were identified that can robustly distinguish different genera and families. Based on these findings, the proposal to transfer some species from Gemella, Jeotgalicoccus, Macrococcus, and Salinicoccus into new genera and families was made.
ANTONIE VAN LEEUWENHOEK INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GENERAL AND MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Javier Jauregui-Lazo, John C. Brinda, Brent D. Mishler
Summary: We conducted a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the diverse moss genus Syntrichia, based on both morphological and molecular data. Our results suggest that the extant species diversity of Syntrichia originated in South America, expanded to the neotropics, and then dispersed to the northern hemisphere. We also found recent diversification and changes in water-related traits associated with different ecological niches.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jonathan A. Nations, Genevieve G. Mount, Sara M. Morere, Anang S. Achmadi, Kevin C. Rowe, Jacob A. Esselstyn
Summary: Different locomotor modes in Murinae species are associated with unique combinations of trait values, with strong covariance between tail and hindfoot lengths in specialized Arboreal and ecologically flexible General species. Specialized lineages show low diversification rates and may represent evolutionary dead ends. General species, characterized by rat-like body plans, narrow optimal trait values, slow phenotypic evolution, but high lineage diversification rates, can act as seeds of species diversity and morphological specialization in ecologically diverse radiations.
Article
Microbiology
Mohit Kumar Saini, Shohei Yoshida, Aswathy Sebastian, Eri Hara, Hideyuki Tamaki, Nathan T. Soulier, Istvan Albert, Satoshi Hanada, Marcus Tank, Donald A. Bryant
Summary: A new microbial strain, named Elioraea tepida, was isolated from an alkaline siliceous hot spring in Yellowstone National Park, USA. The strain grows chemoheterotrophically by oxygen-dependent respiration and can also undergo photoheterotrophic growth under strictly oxic conditions. It does not exhibit photoautotrophic growth under oxic or anoxic conditions, indicating that it belongs to an aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacterium.
Article
Ecology
Vittorio Boscaro, Vittoria Manassero, Patrick J. Keeling, Claudia Vannini
Summary: This study investigated natural populations of Euplotes using a single-cell microbiomic approach and found a high variability in symbiotic communities, with individual hosts harboring different sets of bacterial endosymbionts. Accessory symbionts showed large variability in affinity, and competitive exclusion was observed.
Article
Plant Sciences
Sara Villa, Matteo Montagna, Simon Pierce
Summary: This study found that polyploidy is more frequent and pronounced in endemic angiosperms, especially in recently evolved species. The maximum number of chromosomes decreases with taxon age, and recent endemic species have higher maximum chromosome numbers and a faster decline with age compared to non-endemic species. This supports the hypothesis that recent polyploidy is a key explanation for range restriction in angiosperms.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michele Castelli, Olivia Lanzoni, Michele Giovannini, Natalia Lebedeva, Leandro Gammuto, Davide Sassera, Maksim Melekhin, Alexey Potekhin, Sergei Fokin, Giulio Petroni
Summary: This study characterized a novel Holosporales symbiont that inhabits a ciliate host, showing potential lethal effects on host cell division and a heavy dependence on the host. The bacterium's features suggest a mildly parasitic effect on the host, with a trend towards genome reduction and fast evolution. Similar convergent features with other host-associated lineages, such as Rickettsiales among Alphaproteobacteria, were observed.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Bruno Rossaro, Laura Marziali, Giulia Magoga, Matteo Montagna, Angela Boggero
Summary: In this study, the larvae of certain subgenera of Chironomidae were described and identified, providing important information on freshwater macroinvertebrate indicators. Morphometric characters were used to distinguish larval species, but association with pupal exuviae was still necessary for identification. The development of DNA barcodes is recommended for future research as a more accurate identification tool.
Article
Parasitology
Camilla Carmeno, Aurora Rusconi, Michele Castelli, Paola Prati, Roldano Bragoni, Azzurra Santoro, Umberto Postiglione, Davide Sassera, Emanuela Olivieri
Summary: This study reports the presence of Contracaecum rudolphii (s.l.) specimens from cormorants in the pre-mountain area of the Alps in Northern Italy. The specimens belong to different sibling species, indicating different genetic structure and ecological preference.
VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Giulia Magoga, Matteo Brunetti, Lukasz Kajtoch, Alberto Spada, Matteo Montagna
Summary: This study focuses on factors shaping the microbiota of leaf beetles in a freshwater wetland in Northern Italy. The results indicate that species membership, living zone in the wetland, and sex are potential factors affecting microbiota diversity and composition. Within the studied species, males were found to acquire bacteria from the environment more easily, while females' microbiota were dominated by symbiotic bacteria.
Review
Parasitology
Claudio Bandi, Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan, Domenico Otranto, Alessandro Alvaro, Viviane Noll Louzada-Flores, Massimo Pajoro, Ilaria Varotto-Boccazzi, Matteo Brilli, Alessandro Manenti, Emanuele Montomoli, Gianvincenzo Zuccotti, Sara Epis
Summary: Leishmania parasites have the ability to subvert the immune response of mammalian phagocytes and exploit them as a mode of transport to lymphoid tissues. The non-pathogenic reptile-associated Leishmania tarentolae could potentially be used as a vaccine platform and vehicle for the production of antigens and delivery to dendritic cells and lymph nodes.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Federico Ronchetti, Thomas Schmitt, Agata Negri, Paolo Gabrieli, Sara Epis, Claudio Bandi, Marcello Romano, Carlo Polidori
Summary: The infection of Wolbachia of supergroup A is associated with the cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile in the parasitoid wasp Myrmilla capitata. Infected females have a lower number of CHC compounds and a higher abundance of long-chain compounds, as well as a lower inter-individual variation in CHC profile. Wolbachia may alter wasp sexual communication and not increase the reproductive success of the host.
ENTOMOLOGIA GENERALIS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Maria Stefania Latrofa, Ilaria Varotto-Boccazzi, Viviane Noll Louzada-Flores, Roberta Iatta, Xavier Roura, Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan, Andrea Zatelli, Sara Epis, Claudio Bandi, Domenico Otranto
Summary: This study investigates the association between the endosymbiont Wolbachia and the antibody titers of Leishmania infantum in co-infected dogs. The results suggest that Wolbachia may affect the development of leishmaniosis. However, further validation is needed using experimental models.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Sergei Fokin, Valentina Serra, Leandro Gammuto, Alessandro Allievi, Giulio Petroni, Letizia Modeo
Summary: The history of the genus Copemetopus has been complicated and plagued with misattributions. Initially classified as a heterotrich, further systematic revisions have revealed that Copemetopus belongs to the subphylum Intramacronucleata. However, its taxonomic status remains uncertain and it is currently considered as incertae sedis. In this study, a new species, Copemetopus mystakophoros, is described in detail, and a new class, Copemetopea, is proposed to accommodate the unique molecular and morphological characteristics of Copemetopus.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Antonia Bruno, Alessandra Cafiso, Anna Sandionigi, Andrea Galimberti, Davide Magnani, Amedeo Manfrin, Giulio Petroni, Maurizio Casiraghi, Chiara Bazzocchi
Summary: Aquaculture contributes to global food demand, but diseases associated with intensive farming can impact fish health and the industry. Red mark syndrome (RMS) in farmed rainbow trout lacks known causes, and this study analyzed the microbiome of water and sediment in an RMS-affected aquaculture facility. The bacterial community structure in RMS-affected tanks was not significantly different from RMS-free tanks overall, but there were variations in microbiome composition when analyzing different samples sources. Specific taxa showed significant changes in relative abundance, particularly in water samples from RMS-affected tanks. These findings provide insight into the ecological scenario and can aid in disease prevention and monitoring in aquaculture facilities.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Giulia Magoga, Chiara Piombo, Daria Patrizia Locatelli, Lidia Limonta, Matteo Montagna
Summary: The study investigated the impact of diet on the bacterial community of I. inquinata and its effects on insect performance. Larvae were reared on three different diets and the bacterial communities associated with adults and larvae were characterized using a DNA metabarcoding approach. The results showed that diet affected the composition and diversity of the microbiota, with the lowest diversity observed in individuals reared on Matricaria chamomilla. In addition, the study suggested that the microbiota of adult moths may be partially inherited from larvae.
ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Sergei I. Fokin, Natalia A. Lebedeva, Alexey Potekhin, Leandro Gammuto, Giulio Petroni, Valentina Serra
Summary: This study found two known representatives of Holospora-like bacteria, Candidatus Gortzia yakutica and Preeria caryophila, in new hosts Paramecium nephridiatum and Paramecium polycaryum, respectively. The bacteria were investigated using morphological and molecular methods, providing details of their electron microscopic structure. The ultrastructural description of Pr. caryophila revealed previously unknown features and the new combinations of Holospora-like bacteria with ciliate hosts were discussed from biogeographical and ecological points of view.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PROTISTOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ilaria Di Lelio, Giobbe Forni, Giulia Magoga, Matteo Brunetti, Daniele Bruno, Andrea Becchimanzi, Maria G. De Luca, Martina Sinno, Eleonora Barra, Marco Bonelli, Sarah Frusciante, Gianfranco Diretto, Maria C. Digilio, Sheridan L. Woo, Gianluca Tettamanti, Rosa Rao, Matteo Lorito, Morena Casartelli, Matteo Montagna, Francesco Pennacchio
Summary: Plants generate energy flows through natural food webs, driven by competition for resources among organisms. The interaction between tomato plants and an insect is influenced by their respective microbiotas. The presence of the soil fungus Trichoderma afroharzianum in tomato plants negatively affects the development and survival of the lepidopteran pest Spodoptera littoralis by altering the larval gut microbiota. This study highlights the potential impact of biocontrol agents on the ecological sustainability of agricultural systems.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jinyu Fu, Yong Chi, Xiaoteng Lu, Feng Gao, Saleh A. Al-Farraj, Giulio Petroni, Jiamei Jiang
Summary: Ciliated protists are a diverse group of unicellular organisms with highly differentiated characteristics. Doublets, which occur when two cells fuse into one, have traditionally been viewed as developmental anomalies. However, doublets can divide and mate effectively, potentially representing dispersal forms of life stages. Despite this, there have been limited studies on the morphogenesis of doublets in ciliates, hindering our understanding of their complete life history.
MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)