scholarly journals Biogeography and Microscale Diversity Shape the Biosynthetic Potential of Fungus-growing Ant-associated Pseudonocardia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradon R. McDonald ◽  
Marc G. Chevrette ◽  
Jonathan L. Klassen ◽  
Heidi A. Horn ◽  
Eric J. Caldera ◽  
...  

AbstractThe geographic and phylogenetic scale of ecologically relevant microbial diversity is still poorly understood. Using a model mutualism, fungus-growing ants and their defensive bacterial associate Pseudonocardia, we analyzed genetic diversity and biosynthetic potential in 46 strains isolated from ant colonies in a 20km transect near Barro Colorado Island in Panama. Despite an average pairwise core genome similarity of greater than 99%, population genomic analysis revealed several distinct bacterial populations matching ant host geographic distribution. We identified both genetic diversity signatures and divergent genes distinct to each lineage. We also identify natural product biosynthesis clusters specific to isolation locations. These geographic patterns were observable despite the populations living in close proximity to each other and provides evidence of ongoing genetic exchange. Our results add to the growing body of literature suggesting that variation in traits of interest can be found at extremely fine phylogenetic scales.

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalil Abudahab ◽  
Joaquín M. Prada ◽  
Zhirong Yang ◽  
Stephen D. Bentley ◽  
Nicholas J. Croucher ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe standard workhorse for genomic analysis of the evolution of bacterial populations is phylogenetic modelling of mutations in the core genome. However, in the current era of population genomics, a notable amount of information about evolutionary and transmission processes in diverse populations can be lost unless the accessory genome is also taken into consideration. Here we introduce PANINI, a computationally scalable method for identifying the neighbours for each isolate in a data set using unsupervised machine learning with stochastic neighbour embedding. PANINI is browser-based and integrates with the Microreact platform for rapid online visualisation and exploration of both core and accessory genome evolutionary signals together with relevant epidemiological, geographic, temporal and other metadata. Several case studies with single-and multi-clone pneumococcal populations are presented to demonstrate ability to identify biologically important signals from gene content data. PANINI is available at http://panini.wgsa.net/ and code at http://gitlab.com/cgps/panini


Author(s):  
Kumar Gaurav ◽  
Sanu Arora ◽  
Paula Silva ◽  
Javier Sánchez-Martín ◽  
Richard Horsnell ◽  
...  

AbstractAegilops tauschii, the diploid wild progenitor of the D subgenome of bread wheat, is a reservoir of genetic diversity for improving bread wheat performance and environmental resilience. Here we sequenced 242 Ae. tauschii accessions and compared them to the wheat D subgenome to characterize genomic diversity. We found that a rare lineage of Ae. tauschii geographically restricted to present-day Georgia contributed to the wheat D subgenome in the independent hybridizations that gave rise to modern bread wheat. Through k-mer-based association mapping, we identified discrete genomic regions with candidate genes for disease and pest resistance and demonstrated their functional transfer into wheat by transgenesis and wide crossing, including the generation of a library of hexaploids incorporating diverse Ae. tauschii genomes. Exploiting the genomic diversity of the Ae. tauschii ancestral diploid genome permits rapid trait discovery and functional genetic validation in a hexaploid background amenable to breeding.


2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross D. MacCulloch ◽  
Ilya S. Darevsky ◽  
Robert W. Murphy ◽  
Jinzhong Fu

Genetic diversity at 35 allozyme loci was surveyed in Lacerta derjugini (3 populations) and L. praticola (2 populations). Indices of variability were consistent with those found in other Caucasian Lacerta. There was little genetic substructuring between two populations of L. praticola despite considerable geographic separation. Conversely, populations of L. derjugini in close proximity to one another exhibited considerable substructuring.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruklanthi de Alwis ◽  
Li Liang ◽  
Omid Taghavian ◽  
Emma Werner ◽  
Hao Chung The ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Shigella is a major diarrheal pathogen for which there is presently no vaccine. Whole genome sequencing provides the ability to predict and derive novel antigens for use as vaccines. Here, we aimed to identify novel immunogenic Shigella antigens that could serve as Shigella vaccine candidates, either alone, or when conjugated to Shigella O-antigen. Methods Using a reverse vaccinology approach, where genomic analysis informed the Shigella immunome via an antigen microarray, we aimed to identify novel immunogenic Shigella antigens. A core genome analysis of Shigella species, pathogenic and non-pathogenic Escherichia coli, led to the selection of 234 predicted immunogenic Shigella antigens. These antigens were expressed and probed with acute and convalescent serum from microbiologically confirmed Shigella infections. Results Several Shigella antigens displayed IgG and IgA seroconversion, with no difference in sero-reactivity across by sex or age. IgG sero-reactivity to key Shigella antigens was observed at birth, indicating transplacental antibody transfer. Six antigens (FepA, EmrK, FhuA, MdtA, NlpB, and CjrA) were identified in in vivo testing as capable of producing binding IgG and complement-mediated bactericidal antibody. Conclusions These findings provide six novel immunogenic Shigella proteins that could serve as candidate vaccine antigens, species-specific carrier proteins, or targeted adjuvants.


2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (5) ◽  
pp. 1021-1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura A. Nguyen ◽  
Jimin Wang ◽  
Thomas A. Steitz

Small self-cleaving ribozymes have been discovered in all evolutionary domains of life. They can catalyze site-specific RNA cleavage, and as a result, they have relevance in gene regulation. Comparative genomic analysis has led to the discovery of a new class of small self-cleaving ribozymes named Pistol. We report the crystal structure of Pistol at 2.97-Å resolution. Our results suggest that the Pistol ribozyme self-cleavage mechanism likely uses a guanine base in the active site pocket to carry out the phosphoester transfer reaction. The guanine G40 is in close proximity to serve as the general base for activating the nucleophile by deprotonating the 2′-hydroxyl to initiate the reaction (phosphoester transfer). Furthermore, G40 can also establish hydrogen bonding interactions with the nonbridging oxygen of the scissile phosphate. The proximity of G32 to the O5′ leaving group suggests that G32 may putatively serve as the general acid. The RNA structure of Pistol also contains A-minor interactions, which seem to be important to maintain its tertiary structure and compact fold. Our findings expand the repertoire of ribozyme structures and highlight the conserved evolutionary mechanism used by ribozymes for catalysis.


2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1357-1367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura B. Scheinfeldt ◽  
Shameek Biswas ◽  
Jennifer Madeoy ◽  
Caitlin F. Connelly ◽  
Eric E. Schadt ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanshuang Yu ◽  
Zhenchen Xie ◽  
Jigang Yang ◽  
Jinxuan Liang ◽  
YuanPing Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Bacterial adaptation to extreme environments is often mediated by horizontal gene transfer (HGT). At the same time, phage mediated HGT for conferring bacterial arsenite and antimonite resistance has not been documented before. In this study, a highly arsenite and antimonite resistant bacterium, C. portucalensis strain Sb-2, was isolated and subsequent genome analysis showed that putative arsenite and antimonite resistance determinants were flanked or embedded by prophages. We predict these phage-mediated resistances play a significant role in maintaining genetic diversity within the genus of Citrobacter and are responsible for endowing the corresponding resistances to C. portucalensis strain Sb-2.


Author(s):  
Andrew V. Gougherty

In the northern hemisphere, many species have been reported to have greater genetic diversity in southern populations than northern populations - ostensibly due to migration northward following the last glacial maximum (LGM). The generality of this pattern, while well-established for some taxa, remains unclear for North American trees. To address this issue, I collected published population genetics data for 73 North American tree species, and tested whether genetic diversity was associated with latitude or longitude and whether geographic trends were associated with dispersal traits, range or study characteristics. I found there were no general geographic patterns in genetic diversity, and the strength of the geographic gradients were not associated with any species or study characteristics. Species in the northern and western regions of North America tended to have more species with genetic diversity that declined with latitude, but most species had no significant trend. This work shows that North American trees have complex, individualistic, patterns of genetic diversity that may negate explanation by any particular dispersal trait or range characteristic.


Author(s):  
Radovan Kasarda ◽  
Nina Moravčíková ◽  
Ondrej Kadlečík ◽  
Anna Trakovická ◽  
Marko Halo ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to analyse the level of pedigree and genomic inbreeding in a herd of the Norik of Muran horses. The pedigree file included 1374 animals (603 stallions and 771 mares), while the reference population consisted of animals that were genotyped by using 70k SNP platform (n = 25). The trend of pedigree inbreeding was expressed as the probability that an animal has two identical alleles by descent according to classical formulas. The trend of genomic inbreeding was derived from the distribution of runs of homozygosity (ROHs) with various length in the genome based on the assumption that these regions reflect the autozygosity originated from past generations of ancestors. A maximum of 19 generations was found in pedigree file. As expected, the highest level of pedigree completeness was found in first five generations. Subsequent quality control of genomic data resulted in totally 54432 SNP markers covering 2.242 Mb of the autosomal genome. The pedigree analysis showed that in current generation can be expected the pedigree inbreeding at level 0.23% (ΔFPEDi = 0.19 ± 1.17%). Comparable results was obtained also by the genomic analysis, when the inbreeding in current generation reached level 0.11%. Thus, in term of genetic diversity both analyses reflected sufficient level of variability across analysed population of Norik of Muran horses.


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