Biology subjects

Roda-Garcia, J. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Roda-Garcia, J. J..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Phylogenomics of SAR116 clade reveals two subclades with different evolutionary trajectories and important role in the ocean sulfur cycle

The SAR116 clade within the class Alphaproteobacteria represents one of the most abundant groups of heterotrophic bacteria inhabiting the surface of the ocean. The small number of cultured representatives of SAR116 (only two to date) is a major bottleneck that has prevented an in-depth study at the genomic level to understand the relationship between genome diversity and its role in the marine environment. In this study, we use all publicly available genomes to provide a genomic overview of the phylogeny, metabolism and biogeography within the SAR116 clade. This increased genomic diversity revealed has led to the discovery of two subclades of SAR116 that, despite having similar genome size (ca. 2.4 Mb) and coexist in the same environment, display different properties in their genomic make up. One represents a novel subclade for which no pure cultures have been isolated and is composed mainly of single-amplified genomes (SAGs). Genomes within this subclade showed convergent evolutionary trajectories with more streamlining features, such as low GC content (ca. 30%), short intergenic spacers (<22 bp) and strong purifying selection (low dN/dS). Besides, they were more abundant in metagenomic databases recruiting also at the deep chlorophyll maximum. Less abundant and restricted to the upper photic layers of the global ocean, the other subclade of SAR116, enriched in MAGs, accommodated the only two pure cultures. Genomic analysis suggested that both clades have a significant role in the sulfur cycle with differences in the way in which both clades can metabolize the dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). IMPORTANCESAR116 clade of Alphaproteobacteria is an ubiquitous group of heterotrophic bacteria inhabiting the surface of the ocean, but the information about their ecology and population genomic diversity is scarce due to the difficulty of getting pure culture isolates. The combination of single-cell genomics and metagenomics has become an alternative approach to study this kind of microbes. Our results expand the understanding of the genomic diversity, distribution, and lifestyles within this clade and provide evidence of different evolutionary trajectories in the genome make-up of the two subclades that could serve to understand how evolutionary pressure can drive different adaptations to the same environment. Therefore, the SAR116 clade represents an ideal model organism for the study of the evolutionary streamlining of genomes in microbes that have relatively close relatedness to each other.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Microbiome of the Black Sea water column analyzed by genome centric metagenomics

BackgroundThe Black Sea is the largest brackish water body in the world, although it is connected to the Mediterranean Sea and presents an upper water layer similar to some regions of the former albeit with lower salinity and (mostly) temperature. In spite of its well-known hydrology and physico chemistry, this enormous water mass remains poorly studied at the microbial genomics level. ResultsWe have sampled its different water masses and analyzed the microbiome by classic and genome-resolved metagenomics generating a large number of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from them. The oxic zone presents many similarities to the global ocean while the euxinic water mass has similarities to other similar aquatic environments of marine or freshwater (meromictic monimolimnion strata) origin. The MAG collection represents very well the different types of metabolisms expected in this kind of environments and includes Cyanobacteria (Synechococcus), photoheterotrophs (largely with marine relatives), facultative/microaerophilic microbes again largely marine, chemolithotrophs (N and S oxidizers) and a large number of anaerobes, mostly sulfate reducers but also a few methanogens and a large number of "dark matter" streamlined genomes of largely unpredictable ecology. ConclusionsThe Black Sea presents a mixture of similarities to other water bodies. The photic zone has many microbes in common with that of the Mediterranean with the relevant exception of the absence of Prochlorococcus. The chemocline already presents very different characteristics with many examples of chemolithotrophic metabolism (Thioglobus) and facultatively anaerobic microbes. Finally the euxinic anaerobic zone presents, as expected, features in common with the bottom of meromictic lakes with a massive dominance of sulfate reduction as energy generating metabolism and a small but detectable methanogenesis.We are adding critical information about this unique and important ecosystem and its microbiome.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Staphylococcus sciuri C2865 from a distinct subspecies cluster as reservoir of the novel transferable trimethoprim resistance gene, dfrE, and adaptation driving mobile elements

Four methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus sciuri (MRSS) strains isolated from stranded dogs showed trimethoprim (TMP) resistance, while all staphylococcal TMP resistant dihydrofolate reductase genes (dfr) were negative. An in-depth whole-genome-sequencing approach on strain C2865 was followed for resistome and mobilome profiling, and for comparative genomics with S. sciuri group available genomes. Lack of species host tropism was observed, with MRSS C2865 placed at a separate sub-branch within S. sciuri species, close to the average nucleotide identity to be considered a different species (95-96%). S. sciuri proved a pronounced accessory genome (73% of genes), while MRSS C2865 distinctively harboured the highest total gene number and highest number of unique genes, with 75% associated to the recognised mobilome. A novel multidrug resistance mosaic plasmid (pUR2865-34) with several adaptive, mobilization (oriT mimic) and segregational stability (Type Ib par system) traits and two small single resistance plasmids were identified. Plasmid pUR2865-34 enclosed a novel staphylococcal TMP resistance gene, named dfrE, which shared highest identity with dfr of soil-related Paenibacillus anaericanus (68%). DfrE conferred high-level TMP resistance in S. aureus and Escherichia coli. Database searches revealed that dfrE was formerly denoted (dfr_like) in an Exiguobacterium spp. from a fish-farm sediment and that was present but unnoticed in several staphylococcal and onemacrococcal genomes with different epidemiological backgrounds. Novel chromosomal site-specific mobile islands with resourceful traits were identified, including a multidrug-resistant SCCmec cassette lacking cassette chromosome recombinase (Ccr) genes, a staphylococcal pathogenicity island of the SaPI4 family, and three unrelated siphoviridae prophages, two of which enclosed recombinases with the conserved Ccr-motif. We reveal a novel staphylococcal TMP resistance dfrE gene already present in diverse bacterial backgrounds. We confirm the ubiquity, high genome plasticity and low host tropism of S. sciuri highlighting its role as a resourceful reservoir for evolutionary novel features contributing to its extraordinary versatility and adaptability. Author summaryStaphylococcus spp. are ubiquitous bacteria present in diverse ecological niches, including humans, animals and the environment. They are clinically relevant opportunistic pathogens and are notorious for their ability to acquire antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence properties, resulting in a significant impact for Public Health. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) play a central role in this adaptation process and are a means to transfer genetic information across bacterial species. Staphylococcus sciuri represents one of the most ancestral species in the genus and has been suggested a reservoir for AMR genes. Here, following a refined whole genome sequencing approach we determined the entire genome of an animal and environment-associated multidrug resistant (MDR) S. sciuri strain uncovering a novel acquired staphylococcal TMP resistance gene already spread among different bacterial species from different epidemiological backgrounds. We also reveal several additional MGEs, including a novel MDR mobilizable plasmid that encloses several adaptive and stabilization features, and novel mobilizable chromosomal islands with resourceful traits, including three unrelated prophages. Together with comparative genomics, we confirm the ubiquity, high intraspecies heterogenicity, genome plasticity and low host tropism of this species, highlighting its role as resourceful reservoir for evolutionary novel features contributing to its extraordinary versatility and adaptability.

microbiology↗