Project description:We present the draft genome of Nitrospirae bacterium Nbg-4 as a representative of this clade and couple this to in situ protein expression under sulfate-enriched and sulfate-depleted conditions in rice paddy soil. The proteins were extracted from the soil and analysed via LC-MS/MS measurements.
Project description:The Candidatus phylum Omnitrophica (candidate division OP3) occurs ubiquitous in anaerobic habitats, but is currently characterized only by draft genomes from metagenomes and single cells. We had visualized cells of the phylotype OP3 LiM in methanogenic cultures on limonene as small epibiontic cells. In this study, we enriched OP3 cells by double density centrifugation and obtained the first closed genome of an apparently clonal OP3 cell population applying metagenomics and PCR for gap closure. Filaments of acetoclastic Methanosaeta, the largest morphotype in limonene enrichment cultures, contained empty cells, dead cells and cells devoid of rRNA or both rRNA and DNA according to TEM, thin-section TEM, SEM, CARD-FISH and Live/Dead images. OP3 LiM cells were ultramicrobacteria (200-300 nm in diameter) and showed two physiological stages in CARD-FISH fluorescence signals: strong signals indicated many rRNA molecules and an active metabolism of OP3 LiM cells attached to Bacteria and to Archaea, whereas free-living OP3 cells had weak signals. Metaproteomics revealed that OP3 LiM lives with highly expressed secreted proteins involved in depolymerization and uptake of macromolecules, an active glycolysis and energy conservation by the utilization of pyruvate via a pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase and an RNF complex (Ferredoxin:NAD oxidoreductase). Besides sugar fermentation, a nucleotidyl transferase may contribute to energy conservation by phosphorolysis, the phosphate-dependent depolymerization of nucleic acids. Thin section TEM showed distinctive structures of predation that had been previously observed for “Velamenicoccus”. Our study demonstrated a predatory metabolism for OP3 LiM cells and we propose as name for OP3 LiM Candidatus Velamenicoccus archaeovorus gen. nov., sp. nov..
Project description:Huanglongbing (HLB) (=citrus greening) is a destructive disease of citrus which is caused by a fastidious, phloem-inhabiting bacterium of the genus Candidatus Liberibacter. Large-scale analysis of gene expression changes in ‘Valencia’ orange leaves were studied during the course of 19 weeks after inoculation with Ca. L. asiaticus using the Affymetrix GeneChip® citrus genome array to provide new insights into the molecular basis of citrus response to this pathogen. Of the more than 33,000 probe sets on the microarray 21,067 were expressed in the leaves, of which 279 and 515 were differentially expressed (FDR ≤ 0.05) five to nine and 13-17 weeks after inoculation, respectively. Results from semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis performed on 14 selected genes were highly correlated with those observed with the microarray. Gene expression changes involved a variety of different processes including cell defense, transport, cellular organization, photosynthesis, and carbohydrate metabolism. Notable was the pathogen-induced accumulation of transcripts for a phloem-specific lectin PP2-like protein. Transcriptional changes and their relation to disease symptom development are discussed. This is the first study of transcriptional profiling in citrus in response to liberibacter infection using microarray technology. Huanglongbing (HLB) is a destructive disease of citrus which is suspected to be caused by a phloem-inhabiting bacterium of the genus Candidatus Liberibacter. Large-scale analysis of gene expression changes in ‘Valencia’ orange (C. sinensis) leaves were studied during the course of 19 weeks after inoculation with Ca. L. asiaticus (Las), the pathogen associated with HLB in Florida, using the Affymetrix GeneChip® citrus genome array to provide new insights into the molecular basis of citrus response to this pathogen.