Eukaryotic association module in phage WO genomes from Wolbachia

Abstract

Viruses are trifurcated into eukaryotic, archaeal and bacterial categories. This domain-specific ecology underscores why eukaryotic viruses typically co-opt eukaryotic genes and bacteriophages commonly harbour bacterial genes. However, the presence of bacteriophages in obligate intracellular bacteria of eukaryotes may promote DNA transfers between eukaryotes and bacteriophages. Here we report a metagenomic analysis of purified bacteriophage WO particles of Wolbachia and uncover a eukaryotic association module in the complete WO genome. It harbours predicted domains, such as the black widow latrotoxin C-terminal domain, that are uninterrupted in bacteriophage genomes, enriched with eukaryotic protease cleavage sites and combined with additional domains to forge one of the largest bacteriophage genes to date (14,256 bp). To the best of our knowledge, these eukaryotic-like domains have never before been reported in packaged bacteriophages and their phylogeny, distribution and sequence diversity imply lateral transfers between bacteriophage/prophage and animal genomes. Finally, the WO genome sequences and identification of attachment sites will potentially advance genetic manipulation of Wolbachia.

Transgenic Testing Does Not Support a Role for Additional Candidate Genes in Wolbachia Male Killing or Cytoplasmic Incompatibility

“…In addition, results of SpAID BLASTP analysis do not show any full homologs to the gene in organisms other than Spiroplasma. However, genes on mobile elements such as phages or plasmids (SpAID is reportedly on a plasmid) are often developed by fusion of gene sequences from several different sources (22). Therefore, we performed BLASTP searches on different regions of the protein.…”

“…Divergent wmk homologs in wMel do not transgenically recapitulate male killing. The wMel Wolbachia genome of D. melanogaster contains the eukaryotic association module (EAM) region in prophage WO, which contains genes with putative or demonstrated eukaryotic functions or homology (22). The previously identified wmk gene resides in this region, as do several of its homologs.…”

“…Given the aforementioned relevance to both applied and basic research, there is considerable interest in the genetics of reproductive parasitism (21) and in phage WO in particular (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29). Phage WO has a unique genome among phages because it includes a eukaryotic association module (EAM) that is enriched with genes annotated or demonstrated to have eukaryotic function or homology (22). Many of the EAM genes are unique to this bacteriophage and putatively encode functions that underlie hostsymbiont interactions.…”

Fecal microbiota as a noninvasive biomarker to predict the tissue iron accumulation in intestine epithelial cells and liver

“…, may participate in the development and progression of CRC . Clostridium septicum as a virulent pathogen has been shown to be involved in the development of diseases, such as colorectal malignancy and hepatic carcinoma; however, this may happen with the involvement of other clostridial species such as Clostridium chauvoei , Clostridium novyi , and Clostridium perfringens . C septicum infection and severity may be associated with the dysfunction of neutrophils.…”

Mi Casa es Su Casa: how an intracellular symbiont manipulates host biology

“…Although the phenomenon of cytoplasmic incompatibly was originally characterized in the mid‐20th century (Yen and Barr, ), the genes facilitating it, cifA and cifB , have only recently been identified (Beckmann et al ., ; LePage et al ., ). These two loci (WD0631 and WD0632 in w Mel) are syntenic and associated with Phage WO; they are part of the ‘Eukaryotic Association Module’ which is packaged into phage particles (Bordenstein and Bordenstein, ). When expressed in the fly, the cif loci induce phenotypes that are canonically associated with CI, such as chromatin bridging and regional mitotic failure (LePage et al ., ).…”