Genome Streamlining, Plasticity, and Metabolic Versatility Distinguish Co-occurring Toxic and Nontoxic Cyanobacterial Strains of
            <i>Microcoleus</i>

Tee, Hwee Sze; Wood, Susanna A.; Bouma‐Gregson, Keith; Lear, Gavin

doi:10.1128/mbio.02235-21

Cited by 16 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 118 publications

(156 reference statements)

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“…This is consistent with the wide host-ranges reported for some phages that can infect multiple bacterial species of the same genus, or even members of different genera (Ross et al, 2016). Given that the Microcoleus genomes predicted as hosts also match MAGs recovered from congeneric species from New Zealand rivers (Tee et al, 2021(Tee et al, , 2020) (Table S3), it is feasible that the cyanophages we have identified in two riverine systems of North America are also capable of infecting mat-forming Microcoleus from New Zealand streams.…”

Section: Lytic Microcoleus Phages In Toxigenic Mat Samples From Two D...supporting

confidence: 83%

“…In the case of the CRISPR-Cas system, we used the CrisprOpenDB database (comprises 11,767,782 spacer sequences from bacterial genomes) as a comparative reference (Dion et al, 2021). Also, we used the Mining CRISPRs in Environmental Datasets tool (MinCED v0.4.2) (Bland et al, 2007) to retrieve 15,495 spacer sequences from 178 MAGs obtained from Microcoleus-dominated mats and non-axenic isolates from different rivers in USA, New Zealand and Canada (Table S1) (Bouma-Gregson et al, 2022Conklin et al, 2020;Tee et al, 2021;Valadez-Cano et al, 2023). All spacer sequences were compared against the putative phage sequences recovered from the Wolastoq and Eel River mats using the BLASTn-short function (E-value ≤ 1.0 x 10 -10 , sequence identity ≥ 95%, covering at least 90% of the query spacer sequence) of the BLAST+ package.…”

Section: Phage-host Predictionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Novel lytic and lysogenic cyanophages predicted to infectMicrocoleusassociated with anatoxin-producing benthic mats

Valadez-Cano

Reyes‐Prieto

Lawrence

2023

Preprint

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Proliferations of toxic benthic cyanobacteria are increasingly being reported around the world. Of particular concern areMicrocoleus-dominated mats associated with anatoxin production that have resulted in dog fatalities. Although the impact of cyanophages has been demonstrated in planktonic systems, their role in the population dynamics of benthic cyanobacteria has received little attention. Here we use metagenomics to explore phage presence in benthic mats from the Wolastoq|Saint John River (WR; New Brunswick, Canada) and Eel River (ER; California, US). Our survey recovered multiple viral-like sequences associated with different putative bacterial hosts, including two cyanophage genomes with apparently different replication strategies. A lysogenic cyanophage (predicted as a prophage) was found integrated in the genomes ofMicrocoleussp. 3 recovered from five ER mat samples. This Microcoleus phage is related to previously described Phormidium phage counterparts. Also, we recovered lytic cyanophages from WR and ER mats dominated by anatoxin-producingMicrocoleus, which was predicted as the putative host. Despite the geographical distance between WR and ER, the lytic Microcoleus phage genomes recovered from each river have similar sizes (circa 239 Kbp) and share similar gene content with high sequence identity. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that these lytic Microcoleus phages are distant from any other cyanophage previously described. Our results constitute the first report of cyanophages predicted to infect and therefore influence the population dynamics of mat-formingMicrocoleusspp. associated with anatoxin production.

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Section: Lytic Microcoleus Phages In Toxigenic Mat Samples From Two D...supporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Phage-host Predictionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel lytic and lysogenic cyanophages predicted to infectMicrocoleusassociated with anatoxin-producing benthic mats

Valadez-Cano

Reyes‐Prieto

Lawrence

2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the case of the CRISPR‐Cas system, we used the CrisprOpenDB database (comprises 11,767,782 spacer sequences from bacterial genomes) as a comparative reference (Dion et al, 2021). Also, we used the Mining CRISPRs in Environmental Datasets tool ( MinCED v0.4.2 ) (Bland et al, 2007) to retrieve 15,495 spacer sequences from 178 MAGs obtained from Microcoleus ‐dominated mats and non‐axenic isolates from different rivers in USA, New Zealand and Canada (Table S1) (Bouma‐Gregson et al, 2019, 2022; Conklin et al, 2020; Tee et al, 2021; Valadez‐Cano et al, 2023). All spacer sequences were compared against the putative phage sequences recovered from the Wolastoq and Eel River mats using the BLASTn‐short function ( E ‐value ≤1.0 × 10 −10 , sequence identity ≥95%, covering at least 90% of the query spacer sequence) of the BLAST+ package.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel virulent and temperate cyanophages predicted to infect Microcoleus associated with anatoxin‐producing benthic mats

Valadez‐Cano,

Reyes‐Prieto,

Lawrence

2023

Environmental Microbiology

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Cyanophages are crucial for regulating cyanobacterial populations, but their influence on anatoxin‐producing Microcoleus mat dynamics remains unexplored. Here, we use metagenomics to explore phage presence in benthic mats from the Wolastoq|Saint John River (New Brunswick, Canada) and the Eel River (California, USA). We recovered multiple viral‐like sequences associated with different putative bacterial hosts, including two cyanophage genomes with apparently different replication strategies. A temperate cyanophage was found integrated in the genomes of Microcoleus sp. 3 recovered from the Eel River and is phylogenetically related to Phormidium phages. We also recovered novel virulent cyanophage genomes from Wolastoq and Eel River mats that were dominated by anatoxin‐producing Microcoleus species predicted to be the host. Despite the geographical distance, these genomes have similar sizes (circa 239 kbp) and share numerous orthologous genes with high sequence identity. A considerable reduction of the anatoxin‐producing Microcoleus species in Wolastoq mats following the emergence of the virulent phage suggests that phage infections have an important role in limiting the abundance of this toxigenic cyanobacterium and releasing anatoxins into the surrounding water. Our results constitute the first report of cyanophages predicted to infect mat‐forming Microcoleus species associated with anatoxin production.

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“…Although microenvironmental physiochemistry at mat–coral interfaces has received some research attention (Titlyanov et al, 2007), contact‐mediated destabilizing effects on the coral or cyanobacterial mat microbiome have not been explored previously. Stoichiometric changes at this interface may mediate the shifts among dominant cyanobacterial populations within mats (Tee et al, 2021) toward sulfide‐tolerant clones and overall cause comparatively benign cyanobacterial mats to become virulent. Microenvironment changes or direct microbial transfer (mat‐to‐coral inoculation) at the interaction interfaces may also alter the resident coral microbiome, inducing dysbiosis similar to macroalgal contact‐mediated effects (Nugues et al, 2004).…”

Section: Five Priority Research Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyanobacterial mats as benthic reservoirs and vectors for coral black band disease pathogens

Cissell

Eckrich²,

McCoy

2022

Ecological Applications

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The concurrent rise in the prevalence of conspicuous benthic cyanobacterial mats and the incidence of coral diseases independently mark major axes of degradation of coral reefs globally. Recent advances have uncovered the potential for the existence of interactions between the expanding cover of cyanobacterial mats and coral disease, especially black band disease (BBD), and this intersection represents both an urgent conservation concern and a critical challenge for future research. Here, we propose links between the transmission of BBD and benthic cyanobacterial mats. We provide molecular and ecophysiological evidence suggesting that cyanobacterial mats may create and maintain physically favorable benthic refugia for BBD pathogens while directly harboring BBD precursor assemblages, and discuss how mats may serve as direct (mediated via contact) and indirect (mediated via predator-prey-pathogen relationships) vectors for BBD pathogens. Finally, we identify and outline future priority research directions that are aligned with actionable management practices and priorities to support evidence-based coral conservation practices.

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Genome Streamlining, Plasticity, and Metabolic Versatility Distinguish Co-occurring Toxic and Nontoxic Cyanobacterial Strains of Microcoleus

Abstract: Microcoleus autumnalis , and closely related Microcoleus species, compose a geographically widespread group of freshwater benthic cyanobacteria. Canine deaths due to anatoxin-a poisoning, following exposure to toxic proliferations, have been reported globally.

Cited by 16 publications

References 118 publications

Novel lytic and lysogenic cyanophages predicted to infectMicrocoleusassociated with anatoxin-producing benthic mats

Novel lytic and lysogenic cyanophages predicted to infectMicrocoleusassociated with anatoxin-producing benthic mats

Novel virulent and temperate cyanophages predicted to infect Microcoleus associated with anatoxin‐producing benthic mats

Cyanobacterial mats as benthic reservoirs and vectors for coral black band disease pathogens

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