scholarly journals A Consensus Ochratoxin A Biosynthetic Pathway: Insights from the Genome Sequence ofAspergillus ochraceusand a Comparative Genomic Analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Wang ◽  
Liuqing Wang ◽  
Fan Wu ◽  
Fei Liu ◽  
Qi Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ochratoxin A ◽  
Biosynthetic Pathway ◽  
Polyketide Synthase ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Amide Bond ◽  
Bzip Transcription Factor ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
P450 Monooxygenase ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTOchratoxin A (OTA) is a toxic secondary metabolite produced byAspergillusandPenicilliumspecies that widely contaminates food and feed. We sequenced and assembled the complete ∼37-Mb genome ofAspergillusochraceusfc-1, a well-known producer of OTA. Key genes of the OTA biosynthetic pathway were identified by comparative genomic analyses with five other sequenced OTA-producing fungi:A. carbonarius,A. niger,A. steynii,A. westerdijkiae, andPenicillium nordicum. OTA production was completely inhibited in the deletion mutants (ΔotaA, ΔotaB, ΔotaC, ΔotaD, and ΔotaR1), and OTA biosynthesis was restored by feeding a postblock substrate to the corresponding mutant. The OTA biosynthetic pathway was unblocked in the ΔotaDmutant by the addition of heterologously expressed halogenase. OTA biosynthesis begins with a polyketide synthase (PKS), OtaA, utilizing acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) and malonyl-CoA to synthesize 7-methylmellein, which is oxidized to OTβ by cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (OtaC). OTβ andl-β-phenylalanine are combined by a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS), OtaB, to form an amide bond to synthesize OTB. Finally, OTB is chlorinated by a halogenase (OtaD) to OTA. TheotaABCDgenes were expressed at low levels in the ΔotaR1mutant. A second regulator,otaR2, which is adjacent to the biosynthetic gene, could modulate only the expression ofotaA,otaB, andotaD. Thus, we have identified a consensus OTA biosynthetic pathway that can be used to prevent and control OTA synthesis and will help us understand the variation and production of the intermediate components in the biosynthetic pathway.IMPORTANCEOchratoxin A (OTA) is a significant mycotoxin that contaminates cereal products, coffee, grapes, wine, cheese, and meat. OTA is nephrotoxic, carcinogenic, teratogenic, and immunotoxic. OTA contamination is a serious threat to food safety, endangers human health, and can cause huge economic losses. At present, >20 species of the generaAspergillusandPenicilliumare known to produce OTA. Here we demonstrate that a consensus OTA biosynthetic pathway exists in all OTA-producing fungi and is encoded by a gene cluster containing four highly conserved biosynthetic genes and a bZIP transcription factor.

Characterization, Pathogenicity, Phylogeny, and Comparative Genomic Analysis of Pseudomonas tolaasii Strains Isolated from Various Mushrooms in China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenghui Liu ◽  
Yitong Zhao ◽  
Frederick Leo Sossah ◽  
Benjamin Azu Okorley ◽  
Daniel G. Amoako ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Gene Families ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Secretion Systems ◽  
Pseudomonas Tolaasii ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance Genes

Since 2016, devastating bacterial blotch affecting the fruiting bodies of Agaricus bisporus, Cordyceps militaris, Flammulina filiformis, and Pleurotus ostreatus in China has caused severe economic losses. We isolated 102 bacterial strains and characterized them polyphasically. We identified the causal agent as Pseudomonas tolaasii and confirmed the pathogenicity of the strains. A host range test further confirmed the pathogen’s ability to infect multiple hosts. This is the first report in China of bacterial blotch in C. militaris caused by P. tolaasii. Whole-genome sequences were generated for three strains: Pt11 (6.48 Mb), Pt51 (6.63 Mb), and Pt53 (6.80 Mb), and pangenome analysis was performed with 13 other publicly accessible P. tolaasii genomes to determine their genetic diversity, virulence, antibiotic resistance, and mobile genetic elements. The pangenome of P. tolaasii is open, and many more gene families are likely to emerge with further genome sequencing. Multilocus sequence analysis using the sequences of four common housekeeping genes (glns, gyrB, rpoB, and rpoD) showed high genetic variability among the P. tolaasii strains, with 115 strains clustered into a monophyletic group. The P. tolaasii strains possess various genes for secretion systems, virulence factors, carbohydrate-active enzymes, toxins, secondary metabolites, and antimicrobial resistance genes that are associated with pathogenesis and adapted to different environments. The myriad of insertion sequences, integrons, prophages, and genome islands encoded in the strains may contribute to genome plasticity, virulence, and antibiotic resistance. These findings advance understanding of the determinants of virulence, which can be targeted for the effective control of bacterial blotch disease.

scholarly journals Genomic Analysis of Multiresistant Staphylococcus capitis Associated with Neonatal Sepsis

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen P. Carter ◽  
James E. Ussher ◽  
Anders Gonçalves Da Silva ◽  
Sarah L. Baines ◽  
Helen Heffernan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neonatal Sepsis ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Staphylococcus Capitis ◽  
Hospital Infection Control

ABSTRACT Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), such as Staphylococcus capitis, are major causes of bloodstream infections in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Recently, a distinct clone of S. capitis (designated S. capitis NRCS-A) has emerged as an important pathogen in NICUs internationally. Here, 122 S. capitis isolates from New Zealand (NZ) underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and these data were supplemented with publicly available S. capitis sequence reads. Phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses were performed, as were phenotypic assessments of antimicrobial resistance, biofilm formation, and plasmid segregational stability on representative isolates. A distinct lineage of S. capitis was identified in NZ associated with neonates and the NICU environment. Isolates from this lineage produced increased levels of biofilm, displayed higher levels of tolerance to chlorhexidine, and were multidrug resistant. Although similar to globally circulating NICU-associated S. capitis strains at a core-genome level, NZ NICU S. capitis isolates carried a novel stably maintained multidrug-resistant plasmid that was not present in non-NICU isolates. Neonatal blood culture isolates were indistinguishable from environmental S. capitis isolates found on fomites, such as stethoscopes and neonatal incubators, but were generally distinct from those isolates carried by NICU staff. This work implicates the NICU environment as a potential reservoir for neonatal sepsis caused by S. capitis and highlights the capacity of genomics-based tracking and surveillance to inform future hospital infection control practices aimed at containing the spread of this important neonatal pathogen.

scholarly journals Complete Genome Resequencing of Thermus thermophilus Strain TMY by Hybrid Assembly of Long- and Short-Read Sequencing Technologies

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (46) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kentaro Miyazaki ◽  
Natsuko Tokito
Keyword(s):  
Complete Genome ◽  
Thermus Thermophilus ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Hybrid Assembly ◽  
Genome Resequencing ◽  
Short Read ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sequencing Technologies ◽  
Long Read

Complete genome resequencing was conducted for Thermus thermophilus strain TMY by hybrid assembly of Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-read and MGI short-read data. Errors in the previously reported genome sequence determined by PacBio technology alone were corrected, allowing for high-quality comparative genomic analysis of closely related T. thermophilus genomes.

scholarly journals The Complete Genome of the Atypical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Archetype Isolate E110019 Highlights a Role for Plasmids in Dissemination of the Type III Secreted Effector EspT

2019 ◽  
Vol 87 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy H. Hazen ◽  
David A. Rasko
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Complete Genome ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Severe Diarrhea ◽  
Typical Epec

ABSTRACT Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a leading cause of moderate to severe diarrhea among young children in developing countries, and EPEC isolates can be subdivided into two groups. Typical EPEC (tEPEC) bacteria are characterized by the presence of both the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) and the plasmid-encoded bundle-forming pilus (BFP), which are involved in adherence and translocation of type III effectors into the host cells. Atypical EPEC (aEPEC) bacteria also contain the LEE but lack the BFP. In the current report, we describe the complete genome of outbreak-associated aEPEC isolate E110019, which carries four plasmids. Comparative genomic analysis demonstrated that the type III secreted effector EspT gene, an autotransporter gene, a hemolysin gene, and putative fimbrial genes are all carried on plasmids. Further investigation of 65 espT-containing E. coli genomes demonstrated that different espT alleles are associated with multiple plasmids that differ in their overall gene content from the E110019 espT-containing plasmid. EspT has been previously described with respect to its role in the ability of E110019 to invade host cells. While other type III secreted effectors of E. coli have been identified on insertion elements and prophages of the chromosome, we demonstrated in the current study that the espT gene is located on multiple unique plasmids. These findings highlight a role of plasmids in dissemination of a unique E. coli type III secreted effector that is involved in host invasion and severe diarrheal illness.

scholarly journals Horizontal Gene Transfer Clarifies Taxonomic Confusion and Promotes the Genetic Diversity and Pathogenicity of Plesiomonas shigelloides

mSystems ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiqiu Yin ◽  
Si Zhang ◽  
Yi Wei ◽  
Meng Wang ◽  
Shuangshuang Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pan Genome ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Taxonomic Confusion

The taxonomic position of P. shigelloides has been the subject of debate for a long time, and until now, the evolutionary dynamics and pathogenesis of P. shigelloides were unclear. In this study, pan-genome analysis indicated extensive genetic diversity and the presence of large and variable gene repertoires. Our results revealed that horizontal gene transfer was the focal driving force for the genetic diversity of the P. shigelloides pan-genome and might have contributed to the emergence of novel properties. Vibrionaceae and Aeromonadaceae were found to be the predominant donor taxa for horizontal genes, which might have caused the taxonomic confusion historically. Comparative genomic analysis revealed the potential of P. shigelloides to cause intestinal and invasive diseases. Our results could advance the understanding of the evolution and pathogenesis of P. shigelloides, particularly in elucidating the role of horizontal gene transfer and investigating virulence-related elements.

scholarly journals Biosynthesis of Fusarubins Accounts for Pigmentation of Fusarium fujikuroi Perithecia

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 4468-4480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lena Studt ◽  
Philipp Wiemann ◽  
Karin Kleigrewe ◽  
Hans-Ulrich Humpf ◽  
Bettina Tudzynski
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Biosynthetic Pathway ◽  
Polyketide Synthase ◽  
Biological Function ◽  
Fusarium Fujikuroi ◽  
Diverse Group ◽  
Fruiting Bodies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Encoding Gene

ABSTRACTFusarium fujikuroiproduces a variety of secondary metabolites, of which polyketides form the most diverse group. Among these are the highly pigmented naphthoquinones, which have been shown to possess different functional properties for the fungus. A group of naphthoquinones, polyketides related to fusarubin, were identified inFusariumspp. more than 60 years ago, but neither the genes responsible for their formation nor their biological function has been discovered to date. In addition, although it is known that the sexual fruiting bodies in which the progeny of the fungus develops are darkly colored by a polyketide synthase (PKS)-derived pigment, the structure of this pigment has never been elucidated. Here we present data that link the fusarubin-type polyketides to a defined gene cluster, which we designatefsr, and demonstrate that the fusarubins are the pigments responsible for the coloration of the perithecia. We studied their regulation and the function of the single genes within the cluster by a combination of gene replacements and overexpression of the PKS-encoding gene, and we present a model for the biosynthetic pathway of the fusarubins based on these data.

scholarly journals Biology and Genome Sequence of Streptococcus mutans Phage M102AD

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (7) ◽  
pp. 2264-2271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan L. Delisle ◽  
Ming Guo ◽  
Natalia I. Chalmers ◽  
Gerard J. Barcak ◽  
Geneviève M. Rousseau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Mutans ◽  
Genome Sequence ◽  
Gc Content ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Streptococcus Thermophilus ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Virion Structure

ABSTRACTM102AD is the new designation for aStreptococcus mutansphage described in 1993 as phage M102. This change was necessitated by the genome analysis of anotherS. mutansphage named M102, which revealed differences from the genome sequence reported here. Additional host range analyses confirmed thatS. mutansphage M102AD infects only a few serotype c strains. Phage M102AD adsorbed very slowly to its host, and it cannot adsorb to serotype e and f strains ofS. mutans. M102AD adsorption was blocked by c-specific antiserum. Phage M102AD also adsorbed equally well to heat-treated and trypsin-treated cells, suggesting carbohydrate receptors. Saliva and polysaccharide production did not inhibit plaque formation. The genome of this siphophage consisted of a linear, double-stranded, 30,664-bp DNA molecule, with a GC content of 39.6%. Analysis of the genome extremities indicated the presence of a 3′-overhangcossite that was 11 nucleotides long. Bioinformatic analyses identified 40 open reading frames, all in the same orientation. No lysogeny-related genes were found, indicating that phage M102AD is strictly virulent. No obvious virulence factor gene candidates were found. Twelve proteins were identified in the virion structure by mass spectrometry. Comparative genomic analysis revealed a close relationship betweenS. mutansphages M102AD and M102 as well as withStreptococcus thermophilusphages. This study also highlights the importance of conducting research with biological materials obtained from recognized microbial collections.

scholarly journals Magnetosome Gene Duplication as an Important Driver in the Evolution of Magnetotaxis in the Alphaproteobacteria

mSystems ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haijian Du ◽  
Wenyan Zhang ◽  
Wensi Zhang ◽  
Weijia Zhang ◽  
Hongmiao Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Duplication ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Geomagnetic Field ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Magnetotactic Bacteria ◽  
Duplication Event ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Evolutionary Trajectories

ABSTRACT The evolution of microbial magnetoreception (or magnetotaxis) is of great interest in the fields of microbiology, evolutionary biology, biophysics, geomicrobiology, and geochemistry. Current genomic data from magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), the only prokaryotes known to be capable of sensing the Earth’s geomagnetic field, suggests an ancient origin of magnetotaxis in the domain Bacteria. Vertical inheritance, followed by multiple independent magnetosome gene cluster loss, is considered to be one of the major forces that drove the evolution of magnetotaxis at or above the class or phylum level, although the evolutionary trajectories at lower taxonomic ranks (e.g., within the class level) remain largely unstudied. Here we report the isolation, cultivation, and sequencing of a novel magnetotactic spirillum belonging to the genus Terasakiella (Terasakiella sp. strain SH-1) within the class Alphaproteobacteria. The complete genome sequence of Terasakiella sp. strain SH-1 revealed an unexpected duplication event of magnetosome genes within the mamAB operon, a group of genes essential for magnetosome biomineralization and magnetotaxis. Intriguingly, further comparative genomic analysis suggests that the duplication of mamAB genes is a common feature in the genomes of alphaproteobacterial MTB. Taken together, with the additional finding that gene duplication appears to have also occurred in some magnetotactic members of the Deltaproteobacteria, our results indicate that gene duplication plays an important role in the evolution of magnetotaxis in the Alphaproteobacteria and perhaps the domain Bacteria. IMPORTANCE A diversity of organisms can sense the geomagnetic field for the purpose of navigation. Magnetotactic bacteria are the most primitive magnetism-sensing organisms known thus far and represent an excellent model system for the study of the origin, evolution, and mechanism of microbial magnetoreception (or magnetotaxis). The present study is the first report focused on magnetosome gene cluster duplication in the Alphaproteobacteria, which suggests the important role of gene duplication in the evolution of magnetotaxis in the Alphaproteobacteria and perhaps the domain Bacteria. A novel scenario for the evolution of magnetotaxis in the Alphaproteobacteria is proposed and may provide new insights into evolution of magnetoreception of higher species.

scholarly journals Whole-Genome Sequences and Classification of Streptococcus agalactiae Strains Isolated from Laboratory-Reared Long-Evans Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Bodi Winn ◽  
J. Dzink-Fox ◽  
Y. Feng ◽  
Z. Shen ◽  
V. Bakthavatchalu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Agalactiae ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Evans ◽  
Fatal Septicemia

ABSTRACT In collaboration with the CDC’s Streptococcus Laboratory, we report here the whole-genome sequences of seven Streptococcus agalactiae bacteria isolated from laboratory-reared Long-Evans rats. Four of the S. agalactiae isolates were associated with morbidity accompanied by endocarditis, metritis, and fatal septicemia, providing an opportunity for comparative genomic analysis of this opportunistic pathogen.

scholarly journals Comparative Genomic Analysis of Meningitis- and Bacteremia-Causing Pneumococci Identifies a Common Core Genome

2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (10) ◽  
pp. 4165-4173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benard W. Kulohoma ◽  
Jennifer E. Cornick ◽  
Chrispin Chaguza ◽  
Feyruz Yalcin ◽  
Simon R. Harris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bloodstream Infection ◽  
Common Core ◽  
Core Genome ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Evolutionary Genetics ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Accessory Gene ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Double Exponential ◽  
Considerable Pressure

Streptococcus pneumoniaeis a nasopharyngeal commensal that occasionally invades normally sterile sites to cause bloodstream infection and meningitis. Although the pneumococcal population structure and evolutionary genetics are well defined, it is not clear whether pneumococci that cause meningitis are genetically distinct from those that do not. Here, we used whole-genome sequencing of 140 isolates ofS. pneumoniaerecovered from bloodstream infection (n= 70) and meningitis (n= 70) to compare their genetic contents. By fitting a double-exponential decaying-function model, we show that these isolates share a core of 1,427 genes (95% confidence interval [CI], 1,425 to 1,435 genes) and that there is no difference in the core genome or accessory gene content from these disease manifestations. Gene presence/absence alone therefore does not explain the virulence behavior of pneumococci that reach the meninges. Our analysis, however, supports the requirement of a range of previously described virulence factors and vaccine candidates for both meningitis- and bacteremia-causing pneumococci. This high-resolution view suggests that, despite considerable competency for genetic exchange, all pneumococci are under considerable pressure to retain key components advantageous for colonization and transmission and that these components are essential for access to and survival in sterile sites.

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