Viruses comprise an extensive pool of mobile genetic elements in eukaryote cell cultures and human clinical samples

Thannesberger, Jakob; Hellinger, Hans-Joerg; Klymiuk, Ingeborg; Kastner, Marie-Theres; Rieder, F; Schneider, Martina; Fister, Susanne; Lion, Thomas; Kosulin, Karin; Laengle, Johannes; Bergmann, Michael; Rattei, Thomas; Steininger, Christoph

doi:10.1096/fj.201601168r

Cited by 43 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…The transcytosis of bacteriophages across confluent epithelial cell layers ( Fig. 1 ) provides a mechanistic explanation for the occurrence of phages within the human body in the absence of disease ( 8 – 10 , 12 , 13 ) and supports the establishment of the intrabody phageome ( 35 ). Apical-to-basal transcytosis was observed with every phage type investigated across diverse cell lines ( Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Bacteriophage Transcytosis Provides a Mechanism To Cross Epithelial Cell Layers

Nguyen

Baker

Padman

et al. 2017

mBio

272

278

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Bacterial viruses are among the most numerous biological entities within the human body. These viruses are found within regions of the body that have conventionally been considered sterile, including the blood, lymph, and organs. However, the primary mechanism that bacterial viruses use to bypass epithelial cell layers and access the body remains unknown. Here, we used in vitro studies to demonstrate the rapid and directional transcytosis of diverse bacteriophages across confluent cell layers originating from the gut, lung, liver, kidney, and brain. Bacteriophage transcytosis across cell layers had a significant preferential directionality for apical-to-basolateral transport, with approximately 0.1% of total bacteriophages applied being transcytosed over a 2-h period. Bacteriophages were capable of crossing the epithelial cell layer within 10 min with transport not significantly affected by the presence of bacterial endotoxins. Microscopy and cellular assays revealed that bacteriophages accessed both the vesicular and cytosolic compartments of the eukaryotic cell, with phage transcytosis suggested to traffic through the Golgi apparatus via the endomembrane system. Extrapolating from these results, we estimated that 31 billion bacteriophage particles are transcytosed across the epithelial cell layers of the gut into the average human body each day. The transcytosis of bacteriophages is a natural and ubiquitous process that provides a mechanistic explanation for the occurrence of phages within the body.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Bacteriophage Transcytosis Provides a Mechanism To Cross Epithelial Cell Layers

Nguyen

Baker

Padman

et al. 2017

mBio

272

278

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“…Phages are detected in blood or serum rarely or never, because of the low density of phages in these samples. Further confirmation of the translocation and immunomodulating hypothesis has recently been provided by Thannesberger et al [ 36 ], who—using novel metagenomic approaches—showed the presence of phages in urine of healthy individuals as well as patients. Therefore, by translocating from the gut to other tissues phages may mediate their immunomodulating functions not only locally in the intestinal tract, but also at other sites of the mammalian organism.…”

Section: Phage Translocation and Potential Implications Of This Phenomentioning

confidence: 80%

Bacteriophages in the gastrointestinal tract and their implications

et al. 2017

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The gut microbiota plays an essential role in health and disease of humans. Bacteriophages are the most abundant members of the gut virobiota and display great diversity. Phages can translocate through the mucosa to lymph and internal organs and play a role as regulators of the bacterial population in the gut. Increasing abundance of phages in the gut mucosa may reduce colonization by bacteria. Moreover, phages may have an immunomodulatory role in the immune response in the human gut. The role of phages in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unknown. Phages may take part in the development of IBD, but there are also data suggesting the protective role of phages in the gut of patients with IBD. Furthermore, recent data suggest that phages may mediate the beneficial effects of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Therefore, evidence is accumulating to highlight the protective immunomodulating activity of the gut phages.

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“…Shotgun libraries for Illumina MiSeq sequencing were prepared with the NEBNext ® Ultra II DNA Library Prep Kit for Illumina ® in combination with the Index Primer Set 1 (NEB, Frankfurt, Germany) according to manufacturer’s instructions and as described in (57). Briefly, 500 ng of dsDNA were randomly fragmented by ultrasonication in a microTUBE on a M220 Focused-ultrasonicator™ (Covaris, USA) in a total volume of 130 μl 1xTE for 80 seconds with 200 cycles per burst (140 peak incident power, 10% duty factor).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The International Space Station selects for microorganisms adapted to the extreme environment, but does not induce genomic and physiological changes relevant for human health

Mora

Wink

et al. 2019

Preprint

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The International Space Station (ISS) is a unique, completely confined habitat for the human crew and co-inhabiting microorganisms. Here, we report on the results of the ISS experiment “EXTREMOPHILES”. We aimed to exploit the microbial information obtained from three surface and air sampling events aboard the International Space Station during increments 51 and 52 (2017) with respect to: i) microbial sources, diversity and distribution within the ISS, ii) functional capacity of microbiome and microbial isolates, iii) extremotolerance and antibiotics-resistance (compared to ground controls), and iv) microbial behavior towards ISS-relevant materials such as biofilm formation, or potential for degradation. We used wipe samples and analyzed them by amplicon and metagenomics sequencing, cultivation, comparative physiological studies, antibiotic resistance tests, genome analysis of isolates and co-incubation experiments with ISS-relevant materials. The major findings were: i) the ISS microbiome profile is highly similar to ground-based confined indoor environments, ii) the ISS microbiome is subject to fluctuations and indicative for the (functional) location, although a core microbiome was present over time and independent from location, iii) the ISS selects for microorganisms adapted to the extreme environment, but does not necessarily induce genomic and physiological changes which might be relevant for human health, iv) cleanrooms and cargo seems to be a minor source of microbial contamination aboard, and v) microorganisms can attach to and grow on ISS-relevant materials. Biofilm formation might be a threat for spacecraft materials with the potential to induce instrument malfunctioning with consequences for mission success. We conclude that our data do not raise direct reason for concern with respect to crew health, but indicate a potential threat towards biofilm formation and material integrity in moist areas.

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Viruses comprise an extensive pool of mobile genetic elements in eukaryote cell cultures and human clinical samples

Cited by 43 publications

References 86 publications

Bacteriophage Transcytosis Provides a Mechanism To Cross Epithelial Cell Layers

Bacteriophage Transcytosis Provides a Mechanism To Cross Epithelial Cell Layers

Bacteriophages in the gastrointestinal tract and their implications

The International Space Station selects for microorganisms adapted to the extreme environment, but does not induce genomic and physiological changes relevant for human health

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