The escalating global dissemination of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance poses a formidable threat to global health.Conjugation stands as a pivotal mechanism for horizontal gene transfer among bacterial populatio...The escalating global dissemination of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance poses a formidable threat to global health.Conjugation stands as a pivotal mechanism for horizontal gene transfer among bacterial populations,facilitating the spread of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs).Microelectrolysis has garnered attention as an efficacious strategy for mitigating antibiotic concentrations in wastewater,yet its potential impact on ARG horizontal transfer remain largely unexplored.This comprehensive investigation unveils that microelectrolysis not only influences but significantly accelerates the conjugative transfer of ARG-harboring plasmids.Remarkably,this phenomenon is corroborated at the microbial community scale,underscoring its ecological relevance.Alarmingly,the study highlights the vulnerability of intestinalmicroorganisms to acquire antibiotic resistance under electrolytic stimulation,posing heightened risks to both animal and human health.Delving deeper,the study elucidates the underlyingmechanisms responsible for this enhanced conjugative transfer.It reveals that microelectrolysis augments the abundance of mating-competent cells,triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species,inflicts modest membrane damage,and upregulates the expression of genes critical for conjugation.These findings collectively contribute to a more profound comprehension of the environmental dissemination dynamics and associated public health implications of ARGs in the context of wastewater treatment employing microelectrolytic technologies.展开更多
The possible horizomal transfer of transgenes is of great concern when the transgenic plants are released imo the field. To test the possible transfer of nptII of transgenic trees into soil bacteria, we have used a st...The possible horizomal transfer of transgenes is of great concern when the transgenic plants are released imo the field. To test the possible transfer of nptII of transgenic trees into soil bacteria, we have used a stool DNA preparation kit to isolate the DNA from the soils in the rhizospheres of two non- and eight transgenic Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees. All the samples have provided the corresponding PCR products in the amplification with bacterial 16S RNA specific sequences, which indicates that the quality of the isolated DNA is adequate for amplification. The nptⅡ specific band has been amplified in three soil samples from the transgenic trees and even treated with filtration before the DNA isolation. This indicates that nptII DNA exists in the soil, although it is still unclear whether the DNA was in the soil particles, in the soil bacteria or in the Agrobacterium comamination which was used for the E. camaldulensis transformation. Two approaches on isolation of bacterial DNA have been suggested for testing the possibility of this event in the future.展开更多
Strigolactones(SLs)are not only phytohormones that influence multiple aspects of plant growth and development but also signaling molecules for interactions between plants and certain fungi or bacteria.In plants,the SL...Strigolactones(SLs)are not only phytohormones that influence multiple aspects of plant growth and development but also signaling molecules for interactions between plants and certain fungi or bacteria.In plants,the SL receptor is anα/β-hydrolase(ABH)encoded by the DWARF14(D14)/KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE2(KAl2)gene family,which is known to be derived from proteobacterial RsbQthrough horizontal gene transfer(HGT).In the phytopathogenic fungus Cryphonectria parasitica,another ABH named CpD14 was found to possess SL binding and hydrolytic activities and mediate SL responses,exhibiting potential SL perception functions.Here,we demonstrate that CpD14 and its homologs in Leotiomyceta fungi were derived from Actinobacteria through an independent HGT event,forming a distinct CpD14-like(CDL)family across fungi and bacteria.X-ray crystallography and structuralanalyses reveal that actinobacterial and fungal CDL proteins share a conserved core"α/βfold"domain with D14/KAl2/RsbQ but possess a unique lid domain.Biochemical assays show that both actinobacterial CDL and proteobacterial RsbQ can recognize and hydrolyze SLs,suggesting that they are pre-adapted for SL responses and potential perception.Both plant D14/KAl2 and fungal CDL proteins retained these functional activities,whereas they evolved distinct ligand specificities for SL structural variants.Collectively,this work reveals that independent HGT events from two bacterial groups provided plants and their interacting fungi with pre-adapted ABH proteins,which were deployed for SL perception or responses.展开更多
A new class of RNA regulatory genes known as microRNAs(miRNAs)has been found to introduce a whole new layer of gene regulation in eukaryotes.The intensive studies of the past several years have demonstrated that miRNA...A new class of RNA regulatory genes known as microRNAs(miRNAs)has been found to introduce a whole new layer of gene regulation in eukaryotes.The intensive studies of the past several years have demonstrated that miRNAs are not only found intracellularly,but are also detectable outside cells,including in various body fluids(e.g.serum,plasma,saliva,urine and milk).This phenomenon raises questions about the biological function of such extracellular miRNAs.Substantial amounts of extracellular miRNAs are enclosed in small membranous vesicles(e.g.exosomes,shedding vesicles and apoptotic bodies)or packaged with RNA-binding proteins(e.g.high-density lipoprotein,Argonaute 2 and nucleophosmin 1).These miRNAs may function as secreted signaling molecules to influence the recipient cell phenotypes.Furthermore,secreted extracellular miRNAs may reflect molecular changes in the cells from which they are derived and can therefore potentially serve as diagnostic indicators of disease.Several studies also point to the potential application of siRNA/miRNA delivery as a new therapeutic strategy for treating diseases.In this review,we summarize what is known about the mechanism of miRNA secretion.In addition,we describe the pathophysiological roles of secreted miRNAs and their clinical potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic drugs.We believe that miRNA transfer between cells will have a significant impact on biological research in the coming years.展开更多
Benzoxazinoids are a class of protective and allelopathic plant secondary metabolites that have been identified in multiple grass species and are encoded by the Bx biosynthetic gene cluster(BGC)in maize.Data mining of...Benzoxazinoids are a class of protective and allelopathic plant secondary metabolites that have been identified in multiple grass species and are encoded by the Bx biosynthetic gene cluster(BGC)in maize.Data mining of 41 high-quality grass genomes identified complete Bx clusters(containing genes Bx1–Bx5 and Bx8)in three genera(Zea,Echinochloa,and Dichanthelium)of Panicoideae and partial clusters in Triticeae.The Bx cluster probably originated from gene duplication and chromosomal translocation of native homologs of Bx genes.An ancient Bx cluster that included additional Bx genes(e.g.,Bx6)is presumed to have been present in ancestral Panicoideae.The ancient Bx cluster was putatively gained by the Triticeae ancestor via horizontal transfer(HT)from the ancestral Panicoideae and later separated into multiple segments on different chromosomes.Bx6 appears to have been under less constrained selection compared with the Bx cluster during the evolution of Panicoideae,as evidenced by the fact that it was translocated away from the Bx cluster in Zea mays,moved to other chromosomes in Echinochloa,and even lost in Dichanthelium.Further investigations indicate that purifying selection and polyploidization have shaped the evolutionary trajectory of Bx clusters in the grass family.This study provides the first candidate case of HT of a BGC between plants and sheds new light on the evolution of BGCs.展开更多
Rapid urbanization has resulted in pervasive occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs)in urban aquatic ecosystems.However,limited information is available concerning the ARG profiles and the forces responsible f...Rapid urbanization has resulted in pervasive occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs)in urban aquatic ecosystems.However,limited information is available concerning the ARG profiles and the forces responsible for their assembly in urban landscape lagoon systems.Here,we employed high-throughput quantitative PCR(HT-q PCR)to characterize the spatial variations of ARGs in surface and core sediments of Yundang Lagoon,China.The results indicated that the average richness and absolute abundance of ARGs were 11 and 53 times higher in the lagoon sediments as compared to pristine reference Tibetan lake sediments,highlighting the role of anthropogenic activities in ARG pollution.Co-occurrence network analysis indicated that various anaerobic prokaryotic genera belonging to Alpha-,Deltaproteobacteria,Bacteroidetes,Euryarchaeota,Firmicutes and Synergistetes were the potential hosts of ARGs.The partial least squares-path modeling(PLS-PM)analysis revealed positive and negative indirect effects of physicochemical factors and heavy metals on the lagoon ARG profiles,via biotic factors,respectively.The horizontal(mediated by mobile genetic elements)and vertical(mediated by prokaryotic communities)gene transfer may directly contribute the most to drive the abundance and composition of ARGs,respectively.Furthermore,the neutral community model demonstrated that the assembly of sediment ARG communities was jointly governed by deterministic and stochastic processes.Overall,this study provides novel insights into the diversity and distribution of ARGs in the benthic habitat of urban lagoon systems and underlying mechanisms for the spread and proliferation of ARGs.展开更多
This paper presents a mathematical model for bacterial growth, mutations, horizontal transfer and development of antibiotic resistance. The model is based on the so-called kinetic theory for active particles that is a...This paper presents a mathematical model for bacterial growth, mutations, horizontal transfer and development of antibiotic resistance. The model is based on the so-called kinetic theory for active particles that is able to capture the main complexity features of the system. Bacterial and immune cells are viewed as active particles whose microscopic state is described by a scalar variable. Particles interact among them and the temporal evolution of the system is described by a generalized distribution function over the microscopic state. The model is derived and tested in a couple of case studies in order to confirm its ability to describe one of the most fundamental problems of modern medicine, namely bacterial resistance to antibiotics.展开更多
Horizontal gene transfer(HGT)has been proved a major driving force in prokaryotic evolution.However,the molecular functions of these transferred genes in pathogenic bacteria especially plant pathogenic bacteria are st...Horizontal gene transfer(HGT)has been proved a major driving force in prokaryotic evolution.However,the molecular functions of these transferred genes in pathogenic bacteria especially plant pathogenic bacteria are still not fully investigated.In this study,the whole-genome in silico analysis was performed and found a syringopeptin synthetase(syp)homolog in Burkholderia glumae,which can cause bacterial panicle blight in rice,was predicted to be horizontally transferred from Pseudomonas ancestor with solid confidence by phylogenetic analysis.The comprehensive molecular experiments were performed to study the potential role of this gene in B.glumae.Inoculation of rice panicles with the syp mutant resulted in 60%lower disease index compared with the wild type(WT)parent strain,suggesting the requirement of syp for the full virulence of B.glumae.Chromatography analysis of exudates from B.glumae showed suppression of synthesis of metabolites analogous to syringopeptin in the mutants.All these data raise the possibility of HGT phenomenon in shaping the virulence and adaptation of B.glumae over evolutionary time.展开更多
Applying 3-dimension finite difference method, the distribution characteristics of horizontal field transfer functions for rectangular conductor have been computed, and the law of distribution for Re-part and Im-part ...Applying 3-dimension finite difference method, the distribution characteristics of horizontal field transfer functions for rectangular conductor have been computed, and the law of distribution for Re-part and Im-part has been given. The influences of source field period, the conductivity, the buried depth and the length of the conductor on the transfer functions were studied. The extrema of transfer functions appear at the center, the four corners and around the edges of conductor, and move with the edges. This feature demonstrates that around the edges are best places for transfer functions' observation.展开更多
We report the isolation of a cold-adapted bacterium belonging to the genus Janthinobacterium （named AU 11）, from a water sample collected in Lake Uruguay （King George Island, South Shetlands）. AUI 1 （growth betwe...We report the isolation of a cold-adapted bacterium belonging to the genus Janthinobacterium （named AU 11）, from a water sample collected in Lake Uruguay （King George Island, South Shetlands）. AUI 1 （growth between 4℃ and 30℃） produces a single cold-active extracellular protease （ExPAU11）, differentially expressed at low temperature. ExPAU11 was identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-ToF MS） as an alkaline metallo-protease （70% coverage with an extracellular protease of Janthinobacterium sp. PI12）, and by protease-inhibitor screening identified as a serine-protease. To the best of our knowledge this is the first experimental evidence of a cold-active extracellular protease produced by Janthinobacterium. Furthermore, we identified a serine-protease gene （named JSP8A） showing 60% identity （98% query coverage） to subtilisin peptidases belonging to the $8 family （S8A subfamily） of many cyanobacteria. A phylogenetic analysis of the JSP8A protease, along with related bacterial protein sequences, confirms that JSP8A clusters with S8A subtilisin sequences from different cyanobacteria, and is clearly separated from SSA bacterial sequences of other phyla （including its own）. An analysis of the genomic organization around JSP8A suggests that this protease gene was acquired in an event that duplicated a racemase gene involved in transforming L- to D-amino acids. Our results suggest that AU11 probably acquired this subtilisin-like protease gene by horizontal gene transfer （HGT） from a cyanobacterittrn. We discuss the relevance of a bacterial protease-HGT in the Antarctic environment in light of this hypothesis.展开更多
Knowledge transfer is widely emphasized as a strategic issue for firm competition. A model for intra-firm horizontal knowledge transfer is proposed to model horizontal knowledge transfer to solve some demerits in curr...Knowledge transfer is widely emphasized as a strategic issue for firm competition. A model for intra-firm horizontal knowledge transfer is proposed to model horizontal knowledge transfer to solve some demerits in current knowledge transfer researches. The concept model of intra-firm horizontal knowledge transfer was described and a framework was provided to define the main components of the transfer process. Horizontal knowledge transfer is that knowledge is transferred from the source to the same hierarchical level recipients as the target. Horizontal knowledge transfer constitutes a strategic area of knowledge management research. However, little is known about the circumstances under which one particular mechanism is the most appropriate. To address these issues, some significant conclusions are drawn concerning knowledge transfer mechanisms in a real-world setting.展开更多
Horizontal gene transfer(HGT)is a common occurrence across all domains of life.However,most HGT events were reported between single-celled organisms or parasites and hosts(Van Etten and Bhattacharya 2020).A type II an...Horizontal gene transfer(HGT)is a common occurrence across all domains of life.However,most HGT events were reported between single-celled organisms or parasites and hosts(Van Etten and Bhattacharya 2020).A type II antifreeze protein(AFP)gene was the first and sole evidence of HGT direct vertebrate-to-vertebrate DNA transmission.AFP is only found in 3 widely separated branches of teleost fishes(herring,sea raven,and smelts),sharing amino acid similarity up to 80%(Graham et al.2008).展开更多
Horizontal gene transfer(HGT) refers to the flow of genetic materials to non-offspring,and occasionally HGT in plants can improve the adaptation of organisms in new niches due to expanded metabolic capability.Anthocya...Horizontal gene transfer(HGT) refers to the flow of genetic materials to non-offspring,and occasionally HGT in plants can improve the adaptation of organisms in new niches due to expanded metabolic capability.Anthocyanins are an important group of water-soluble red,purple,or blue secondary metabolites,whose diversity results from modification after the main skeleton biosynthesis.Cuscuta is a stem holoparasitic genus,whose members form direct connection with hosts to withdraw water,nutrients,and macromolecules.Such intimate association is thought to increase the frequency of HGT.By transcriptome screening for foreign genes in Cuscuta australis,we discovered that one gene encoding a putative anthocyanin acyltransferase gene of the BAHD family,which is likely to be involved in anthocyanin modification,was acquired by C.australis from Fabaceae through HGT.The anthocyanin acyltransferase-like(AT-like) gene was confirmed to be present in the genome assembly of C.australis and the transcriptomes of Cuscuta pentagona.The higher transcriptional level in old stems is consistent with its putative function in secondary metabolism by stabilizing anthocyanin at neutral pH and thus HGT of this AT-like gene may have improved biotic and abiotic resistance of Cuscuta.展开更多
Transposable elements （TEs） are self-replicating, mobile DNA sequences which constitute a significant fraction of eukaryotic genomes. They are generally considered selfish DNA, as their replication and random insert...Transposable elements （TEs） are self-replicating, mobile DNA sequences which constitute a significant fraction of eukaryotic genomes. They are generally considered selfish DNA, as their replication and random insertion may have deleterious effects on genome functionalities, although some beneficial effects and evolutionary potential have been recognized. Short interspersed elements （SINEs） are non-autonomous TEs with a modular structure： a small RNA-related head, a body, and a long interspersed element-related tail. Despite their high turnover rate and de novo emergence, the body may retain highly conserved domains （HCDs） shared among divergent SINE families： in metazoans, at least nine HCD-SINEs have been recognized. Data mining on public molecular databases allowed the retrieval of 16 new HCD-SINE families from cnidarian, molluscs, arthropods, and vertebrates. Tracking the ancestry of HCDs on the metazoan phylogeny revealed that some of them date back to the Radiata-Bilateria split. Moreover, phylogenetic and age versus divergence analyses of the most ancient HCDs suggested that long-term vertical inheritance is the rule, with few horizontal transfer events. We suggest that the evolutionary conservation of HCDs may be linked to their potential to serve as recombination hotspots. This indirectly affects host genomes by maintaining active and diverse SINE lineages, whose insertions may impact （either positively or negatively） on the evolution of the genome.展开更多
Objective Poxviruses are zoonotic pathogens that infect humans,mammals,vertebrates,and arthropods.However,the specific role of ticks in transmission and evolution of these viruses remains unclear.Methods Transcriptomi...Objective Poxviruses are zoonotic pathogens that infect humans,mammals,vertebrates,and arthropods.However,the specific role of ticks in transmission and evolution of these viruses remains unclear.Methods Transcriptomic and metatranscriptomic raw data from 329 sampling pools of seven tick species across five continents were mined to assess the diversity and abundance of poxviruses.Chordopoxviral sequences were assembled and subjected to phylogenetic analysis to trace the origins of the unblasted fragments within these sequences.Results Fifty-eight poxvirus species,representing two subfamilies and 20 genera,were identified,with 212 poxviral sequences assembled.A substantial proportion of AT-rich fragments were detected in the assembled poxviral genomes.These genomic sequences contained fragments originating from rodents,archaea,and arthropods.Conclusion Our findings indicate that ticks play a significant role in the transmission and evolution of poxviruses.These viruses demonstrate the capacity to modulate virulence and adaptability through horizontal gene transfer,gene recombination,and gene mutations,thereby promoting co-existence and co-evolution with their hosts.This study advances understanding of the ecological dynamics of poxvirus transmission and evolution and highlights the potential role of ticks as vectors and vessels in these processes.展开更多
Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),encompassing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis,is a chronic condition marked by recurring gastrointestinal inflammation.While immune,genetic,and environmental factors are well-...Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),encompassing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis,is a chronic condition marked by recurring gastrointestinal inflammation.While immune,genetic,and environmental factors are well-studied,the gut virome has received less attention.This editorial highlights the work which investigates the gut virome’s role in IBD and its interactions with the bacterial microbiome and host immune system.The gut virome consists of bacteriophages,eukaryotic viruses,and endogenous retroviruses.Among these,Caudovirales bacteriophages are predominant and influence bacterial communities via lysogenic and lytic cycles.Eukaryotic viruses infect host cells directly,while endogenous retroviruses impact gene regulation and immune responses.In IBD,the virome shows distinct alterations,including an increased abundance of Caudovirales phages and reduced Microviridae diversity,suggesting a pro-inflammatory viral environment.Dysbiosis,chronic inflammation,and aberrant immune responses contribute to these changes by disrupting microbial communities and modifying virome composition.Phages affect bacterial dynamics through lysis,lysogeny,and horizontal gene transfer,shaping microbial adaptability and resilience.Understanding these interactions is crucial for identifying novel therapeutic targets and restoring microbial balance in IBD.展开更多
Microplastics(MPs)and antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs)pose significant challenges to the One Health framework due to their intricate and multifaceted ecological and environmental impacts.However,the understanding of ...Microplastics(MPs)and antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs)pose significant challenges to the One Health framework due to their intricate and multifaceted ecological and environmental impacts.However,the understanding of how MP properties influence ARG prevalence in mariculture sediments remains limited.Herein,the polystyrene(PS)and polyvinyl chloride(PVC)MPs with different sizes(20-120μm and 0.5-2.0 mm)were selected to evaluate their impacts and underlying mechanisms driving ARGs dissemination.The results showed that PS and PVC MPs increased the relative abundance of ARGs by 1.41-2.50-fold and 2.01-2.84-fold,respectively,compared with control,particularly high-risk genes.The polymer type effect was identified as more influential than the size effect in driving the sediment resistome evolution.PVC shifted the microbial community assembly from stochastic to deterministic processes,thus enriching ARG host pathogens.Furthermore,the highly hydrophobic PS not only recruited the host bacteria colonization but also facilitated ARG exchange within the plastisphere.The exogenous additives released by PVC(e.g.,heavy metals,bisphenol A,and tridecyl ester)and the particles synergistically promoted ARG conjugative transfer by inducing oxidative stress and enhancing cell membrane permeability.These findings revealed how MPs characteristics facilitated the spread of ARGs in marine benthic ecosystems,underscoring the importance of mitigating MPs pollution to maintain mariculture ecosystem health,prevent zoonotic diseases,and balance global mariculture with ecological health.展开更多
Microorganisms play a critical role in the biotransformation of arsenic and the form which it exists in the environment. In this study, a methyl parathion-degrading bacterium Caballeronia jiangsuensis, isolated from a...Microorganisms play a critical role in the biotransformation of arsenic and the form which it exists in the environment. In this study, a methyl parathion-degrading bacterium Caballeronia jiangsuensis, isolated from an abandoned pesticide manufacturing plant, was used to analyze arsenic accumulation and transformation. The accumulation of trivalent organoarsenic compounds in C. jiangsuensis occurred to a greater extent than that of their pentavalent counterparts. The chromosome of C. jiangsuensis contains an arsenic gene island whose GC content is significantly lower than that of the genome, suggesting that the island was acquired via horizontal gene transfer. There was approximately 90%-99% similarity between the proteins encoded by the gene island and the corresponding sequence of the plasmid pkk5 from Burkholderia sp. KK1. The biotransformation of different arsenic species by C. jiangsuensis was subsequently analyzed. The results revealed that monomethylarsenic acid(MAs(Ⅴ)) was rapidly demethylated to arsenate with very small amounts of intermediate monomethylarsonous acid(MAs(Ⅲ)), whereas MAs(Ⅲ) was largely oxidized to MAs(Ⅴ) despite the occurrence of the gene arsI probably responsible for aerobic demethylation of MAs(Ⅲ) in C. jiangsuensis. In addition, dimethylarsenic acid was partly demethylated to arsenate. Horizontal gene transfer of ars operon from a plasmid to other bacteria represents an adaptation to a specific environment. This study provides a new perspective for understanding arsenic biogeochemical cycling.展开更多
The global dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs),especially via plasmid-mediated horizontal transfer,is becoming a pervasive health threat.While our previous study found that herbicides can accelerate the...The global dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs),especially via plasmid-mediated horizontal transfer,is becoming a pervasive health threat.While our previous study found that herbicides can accelerate the horizontal gene transfer(HGT)of ARGs in soil bacteria,the underlying mechanisms by which herbicides promote the HGT of ARGs across and within bacterial genera are still unclear.Here,the underlying mechanism associ-ated with herbicide-promoted HGT was analyzed by detecting intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)production,extracellular polymeric substance composition,cell membrane integrity and proton motive force combined with genome-wide RNA sequencing.Exposure to herbicides induced a series of the above bacterial responses to promote HGT except for the ROS response,including compact cell-to-cell contact by enhancing pilus-encoded gene expression and decreasing cell surface charge,increasing cell membrane permeability,and enhancing the proton motive force,providing additional power for DNA uptake.This study provides a mechanistic understanding of the risk of bacterial resistance spread promoted by herbicides,which elucidates a new perspective on nonantibiotic agrochemical acceleration of the HGT of ARGs.展开更多
基金supported by Jiangsu Agriculture Science and Technology Innovation Fund(No.CX(22)3001)。
文摘The escalating global dissemination of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance poses a formidable threat to global health.Conjugation stands as a pivotal mechanism for horizontal gene transfer among bacterial populations,facilitating the spread of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs).Microelectrolysis has garnered attention as an efficacious strategy for mitigating antibiotic concentrations in wastewater,yet its potential impact on ARG horizontal transfer remain largely unexplored.This comprehensive investigation unveils that microelectrolysis not only influences but significantly accelerates the conjugative transfer of ARG-harboring plasmids.Remarkably,this phenomenon is corroborated at the microbial community scale,underscoring its ecological relevance.Alarmingly,the study highlights the vulnerability of intestinalmicroorganisms to acquire antibiotic resistance under electrolytic stimulation,posing heightened risks to both animal and human health.Delving deeper,the study elucidates the underlyingmechanisms responsible for this enhanced conjugative transfer.It reveals that microelectrolysis augments the abundance of mating-competent cells,triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species,inflicts modest membrane damage,and upregulates the expression of genes critical for conjugation.These findings collectively contribute to a more profound comprehension of the environmental dissemination dynamics and associated public health implications of ARGs in the context of wastewater treatment employing microelectrolytic technologies.
文摘The possible horizomal transfer of transgenes is of great concern when the transgenic plants are released imo the field. To test the possible transfer of nptII of transgenic trees into soil bacteria, we have used a stool DNA preparation kit to isolate the DNA from the soils in the rhizospheres of two non- and eight transgenic Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees. All the samples have provided the corresponding PCR products in the amplification with bacterial 16S RNA specific sequences, which indicates that the quality of the isolated DNA is adequate for amplification. The nptⅡ specific band has been amplified in three soil samples from the transgenic trees and even treated with filtration before the DNA isolation. This indicates that nptII DNA exists in the soil, although it is still unclear whether the DNA was in the soil particles, in the soil bacteria or in the Agrobacterium comamination which was used for the E. camaldulensis transformation. Two approaches on isolation of bacterial DNA have been suggested for testing the possibility of this event in the future.
基金supported in part by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(32170242 and 32470244)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS(2022398)+4 种基金the Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program"Young Talent"Project(XDYCQNRC-2022-0046)the Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects(202201AT070163)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research(STEP)Program(2019QZKK0502)the National Key R&D Program of China(2024YFF1306700)the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture(CE200100015).
文摘Strigolactones(SLs)are not only phytohormones that influence multiple aspects of plant growth and development but also signaling molecules for interactions between plants and certain fungi or bacteria.In plants,the SL receptor is anα/β-hydrolase(ABH)encoded by the DWARF14(D14)/KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE2(KAl2)gene family,which is known to be derived from proteobacterial RsbQthrough horizontal gene transfer(HGT).In the phytopathogenic fungus Cryphonectria parasitica,another ABH named CpD14 was found to possess SL binding and hydrolytic activities and mediate SL responses,exhibiting potential SL perception functions.Here,we demonstrate that CpD14 and its homologs in Leotiomyceta fungi were derived from Actinobacteria through an independent HGT event,forming a distinct CpD14-like(CDL)family across fungi and bacteria.X-ray crystallography and structuralanalyses reveal that actinobacterial and fungal CDL proteins share a conserved core"α/βfold"domain with D14/KAl2/RsbQ but possess a unique lid domain.Biochemical assays show that both actinobacterial CDL and proteobacterial RsbQ can recognize and hydrolyze SLs,suggesting that they are pre-adapted for SL responses and potential perception.Both plant D14/KAl2 and fungal CDL proteins retained these functional activities,whereas they evolved distinct ligand specificities for SL structural variants.Collectively,this work reveals that independent HGT events from two bacterial groups provided plants and their interacting fungi with pre-adapted ABH proteins,which were deployed for SL perception or responses.
基金by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.90813035,81101330,81171661,30890044,30772484,30725008,30890032,31071232,31000323,90608010,and J1103512)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK2011013)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.1107020839).
文摘A new class of RNA regulatory genes known as microRNAs(miRNAs)has been found to introduce a whole new layer of gene regulation in eukaryotes.The intensive studies of the past several years have demonstrated that miRNAs are not only found intracellularly,but are also detectable outside cells,including in various body fluids(e.g.serum,plasma,saliva,urine and milk).This phenomenon raises questions about the biological function of such extracellular miRNAs.Substantial amounts of extracellular miRNAs are enclosed in small membranous vesicles(e.g.exosomes,shedding vesicles and apoptotic bodies)or packaged with RNA-binding proteins(e.g.high-density lipoprotein,Argonaute 2 and nucleophosmin 1).These miRNAs may function as secreted signaling molecules to influence the recipient cell phenotypes.Furthermore,secreted extracellular miRNAs may reflect molecular changes in the cells from which they are derived and can therefore potentially serve as diagnostic indicators of disease.Several studies also point to the potential application of siRNA/miRNA delivery as a new therapeutic strategy for treating diseases.In this review,we summarize what is known about the mechanism of miRNA secretion.In addition,we describe the pathophysiological roles of secreted miRNAs and their clinical potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic drugs.We believe that miRNA transfer between cells will have a significant impact on biological research in the coming years.
基金This work was supported by grants from the Zhejiang Natural Science Foundation(LZ17C130001)the Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production,111 Project(B17039).
文摘Benzoxazinoids are a class of protective and allelopathic plant secondary metabolites that have been identified in multiple grass species and are encoded by the Bx biosynthetic gene cluster(BGC)in maize.Data mining of 41 high-quality grass genomes identified complete Bx clusters(containing genes Bx1–Bx5 and Bx8)in three genera(Zea,Echinochloa,and Dichanthelium)of Panicoideae and partial clusters in Triticeae.The Bx cluster probably originated from gene duplication and chromosomal translocation of native homologs of Bx genes.An ancient Bx cluster that included additional Bx genes(e.g.,Bx6)is presumed to have been present in ancestral Panicoideae.The ancient Bx cluster was putatively gained by the Triticeae ancestor via horizontal transfer(HT)from the ancestral Panicoideae and later separated into multiple segments on different chromosomes.Bx6 appears to have been under less constrained selection compared with the Bx cluster during the evolution of Panicoideae,as evidenced by the fact that it was translocated away from the Bx cluster in Zea mays,moved to other chromosomes in Echinochloa,and even lost in Dichanthelium.Further investigations indicate that purifying selection and polyploidization have shaped the evolutionary trajectory of Bx clusters in the grass family.This study provides the first candidate case of HT of a BGC between plants and sheds new light on the evolution of BGCs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31470539 and U1805244)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(STEP)(No.2019QZKK0503)+1 种基金the 9th China-Croatia Science and Technology cooperation committee program(No.9–21)supported by the China Scholarship Council(No.201804910668)。
文摘Rapid urbanization has resulted in pervasive occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs)in urban aquatic ecosystems.However,limited information is available concerning the ARG profiles and the forces responsible for their assembly in urban landscape lagoon systems.Here,we employed high-throughput quantitative PCR(HT-q PCR)to characterize the spatial variations of ARGs in surface and core sediments of Yundang Lagoon,China.The results indicated that the average richness and absolute abundance of ARGs were 11 and 53 times higher in the lagoon sediments as compared to pristine reference Tibetan lake sediments,highlighting the role of anthropogenic activities in ARG pollution.Co-occurrence network analysis indicated that various anaerobic prokaryotic genera belonging to Alpha-,Deltaproteobacteria,Bacteroidetes,Euryarchaeota,Firmicutes and Synergistetes were the potential hosts of ARGs.The partial least squares-path modeling(PLS-PM)analysis revealed positive and negative indirect effects of physicochemical factors and heavy metals on the lagoon ARG profiles,via biotic factors,respectively.The horizontal(mediated by mobile genetic elements)and vertical(mediated by prokaryotic communities)gene transfer may directly contribute the most to drive the abundance and composition of ARGs,respectively.Furthermore,the neutral community model demonstrated that the assembly of sediment ARG communities was jointly governed by deterministic and stochastic processes.Overall,this study provides novel insights into the diversity and distribution of ARGs in the benthic habitat of urban lagoon systems and underlying mechanisms for the spread and proliferation of ARGs.
文摘This paper presents a mathematical model for bacterial growth, mutations, horizontal transfer and development of antibiotic resistance. The model is based on the so-called kinetic theory for active particles that is able to capture the main complexity features of the system. Bacterial and immune cells are viewed as active particles whose microscopic state is described by a scalar variable. Particles interact among them and the temporal evolution of the system is described by a generalized distribution function over the microscopic state. The model is derived and tested in a couple of case studies in order to confirm its ability to describe one of the most fundamental problems of modern medicine, namely bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
基金the National Key R&D Program of China(2018YFD0201202 and 2017YFD0201108)the Agri-X Interdisciplinary Fund of Shanghai Jiao Tong University,China(Agri-X2017010)+3 种基金the State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests of Shanghai Jiao Tong University(SKLOF201802)the Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology(19390743300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31200003 and 31770772)Joint Research Funds for Translational Medicine at Shanghai Jiao Tong University(ZH2018ZDA06).
文摘Horizontal gene transfer(HGT)has been proved a major driving force in prokaryotic evolution.However,the molecular functions of these transferred genes in pathogenic bacteria especially plant pathogenic bacteria are still not fully investigated.In this study,the whole-genome in silico analysis was performed and found a syringopeptin synthetase(syp)homolog in Burkholderia glumae,which can cause bacterial panicle blight in rice,was predicted to be horizontally transferred from Pseudomonas ancestor with solid confidence by phylogenetic analysis.The comprehensive molecular experiments were performed to study the potential role of this gene in B.glumae.Inoculation of rice panicles with the syp mutant resulted in 60%lower disease index compared with the wild type(WT)parent strain,suggesting the requirement of syp for the full virulence of B.glumae.Chromatography analysis of exudates from B.glumae showed suppression of synthesis of metabolites analogous to syringopeptin in the mutants.All these data raise the possibility of HGT phenomenon in shaping the virulence and adaptation of B.glumae over evolutionary time.
文摘Applying 3-dimension finite difference method, the distribution characteristics of horizontal field transfer functions for rectangular conductor have been computed, and the law of distribution for Re-part and Im-part has been given. The influences of source field period, the conductivity, the buried depth and the length of the conductor on the transfer functions were studied. The extrema of transfer functions appear at the center, the four corners and around the edges of conductor, and move with the edges. This feature demonstrates that around the edges are best places for transfer functions' observation.
基金supported by PEDECIBA (Programa De Desarrollo de las Ciencias Básicas), Uruguay, and IAU (Instituto Antártico Uruguayo)supported by ANII (Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación)
文摘We report the isolation of a cold-adapted bacterium belonging to the genus Janthinobacterium （named AU 11）, from a water sample collected in Lake Uruguay （King George Island, South Shetlands）. AUI 1 （growth between 4℃ and 30℃） produces a single cold-active extracellular protease （ExPAU11）, differentially expressed at low temperature. ExPAU11 was identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-ToF MS） as an alkaline metallo-protease （70% coverage with an extracellular protease of Janthinobacterium sp. PI12）, and by protease-inhibitor screening identified as a serine-protease. To the best of our knowledge this is the first experimental evidence of a cold-active extracellular protease produced by Janthinobacterium. Furthermore, we identified a serine-protease gene （named JSP8A） showing 60% identity （98% query coverage） to subtilisin peptidases belonging to the $8 family （S8A subfamily） of many cyanobacteria. A phylogenetic analysis of the JSP8A protease, along with related bacterial protein sequences, confirms that JSP8A clusters with S8A subtilisin sequences from different cyanobacteria, and is clearly separated from SSA bacterial sequences of other phyla （including its own）. An analysis of the genomic organization around JSP8A suggests that this protease gene was acquired in an event that duplicated a racemase gene involved in transforming L- to D-amino acids. Our results suggest that AU11 probably acquired this subtilisin-like protease gene by horizontal gene transfer （HGT） from a cyanobacterittrn. We discuss the relevance of a bacterial protease-HGT in the Antarctic environment in light of this hypothesis.
文摘Knowledge transfer is widely emphasized as a strategic issue for firm competition. A model for intra-firm horizontal knowledge transfer is proposed to model horizontal knowledge transfer to solve some demerits in current knowledge transfer researches. The concept model of intra-firm horizontal knowledge transfer was described and a framework was provided to define the main components of the transfer process. Horizontal knowledge transfer is that knowledge is transferred from the source to the same hierarchical level recipients as the target. Horizontal knowledge transfer constitutes a strategic area of knowledge management research. However, little is known about the circumstances under which one particular mechanism is the most appropriate. To address these issues, some significant conclusions are drawn concerning knowledge transfer mechanisms in a real-world setting.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFA0604904)the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(LR21D060003)to Z.H.
文摘Horizontal gene transfer(HGT)is a common occurrence across all domains of life.However,most HGT events were reported between single-celled organisms or parasites and hosts(Van Etten and Bhattacharya 2020).A type II antifreeze protein(AFP)gene was the first and sole evidence of HGT direct vertebrate-to-vertebrate DNA transmission.AFP is only found in 3 widely separated branches of teleost fishes(herring,sea raven,and smelts),sharing amino acid similarity up to 80%(Graham et al.2008).
基金Acknowledgments This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 31301037 and 31470012 to G.S.）, the Natural Science Foundation of Yunnan Province of China （No. 2013FB068 to G.S.）, the Young Academic and Technical Leader Raising Foundation of Yunnan Province （No. 2014HB046, to G.S.）, the Western Light Talent Culture Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences （to G.S.）, and the Yunnan Recruitment Program of Experts in Sciences （2012HA016 to J.W.）.
文摘Horizontal gene transfer(HGT) refers to the flow of genetic materials to non-offspring,and occasionally HGT in plants can improve the adaptation of organisms in new niches due to expanded metabolic capability.Anthocyanins are an important group of water-soluble red,purple,or blue secondary metabolites,whose diversity results from modification after the main skeleton biosynthesis.Cuscuta is a stem holoparasitic genus,whose members form direct connection with hosts to withdraw water,nutrients,and macromolecules.Such intimate association is thought to increase the frequency of HGT.By transcriptome screening for foreign genes in Cuscuta australis,we discovered that one gene encoding a putative anthocyanin acyltransferase gene of the BAHD family,which is likely to be involved in anthocyanin modification,was acquired by C.australis from Fabaceae through HGT.The anthocyanin acyltransferase-like(AT-like) gene was confirmed to be present in the genome assembly of C.australis and the transcriptomes of Cuscuta pentagona.The higher transcriptional level in old stems is consistent with its putative function in secondary metabolism by stabilizing anthocyanin at neutral pH and thus HGT of this AT-like gene may have improved biotic and abiotic resistance of Cuscuta.
文摘Transposable elements （TEs） are self-replicating, mobile DNA sequences which constitute a significant fraction of eukaryotic genomes. They are generally considered selfish DNA, as their replication and random insertion may have deleterious effects on genome functionalities, although some beneficial effects and evolutionary potential have been recognized. Short interspersed elements （SINEs） are non-autonomous TEs with a modular structure： a small RNA-related head, a body, and a long interspersed element-related tail. Despite their high turnover rate and de novo emergence, the body may retain highly conserved domains （HCDs） shared among divergent SINE families： in metazoans, at least nine HCD-SINEs have been recognized. Data mining on public molecular databases allowed the retrieval of 16 new HCD-SINE families from cnidarian, molluscs, arthropods, and vertebrates. Tracking the ancestry of HCDs on the metazoan phylogeny revealed that some of them date back to the Radiata-Bilateria split. Moreover, phylogenetic and age versus divergence analyses of the most ancient HCDs suggested that long-term vertical inheritance is the rule, with few horizontal transfer events. We suggest that the evolutionary conservation of HCDs may be linked to their potential to serve as recombination hotspots. This indirectly affects host genomes by maintaining active and diverse SINE lineages, whose insertions may impact （either positively or negatively） on the evolution of the genome.
基金financially supported by the Shanghai New Three-Year Action Plan for Public Health(Grant No.GWVI-11.1-03)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.81872673).
文摘Objective Poxviruses are zoonotic pathogens that infect humans,mammals,vertebrates,and arthropods.However,the specific role of ticks in transmission and evolution of these viruses remains unclear.Methods Transcriptomic and metatranscriptomic raw data from 329 sampling pools of seven tick species across five continents were mined to assess the diversity and abundance of poxviruses.Chordopoxviral sequences were assembled and subjected to phylogenetic analysis to trace the origins of the unblasted fragments within these sequences.Results Fifty-eight poxvirus species,representing two subfamilies and 20 genera,were identified,with 212 poxviral sequences assembled.A substantial proportion of AT-rich fragments were detected in the assembled poxviral genomes.These genomic sequences contained fragments originating from rodents,archaea,and arthropods.Conclusion Our findings indicate that ticks play a significant role in the transmission and evolution of poxviruses.These viruses demonstrate the capacity to modulate virulence and adaptability through horizontal gene transfer,gene recombination,and gene mutations,thereby promoting co-existence and co-evolution with their hosts.This study advances understanding of the ecological dynamics of poxvirus transmission and evolution and highlights the potential role of ticks as vectors and vessels in these processes.
文摘Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),encompassing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis,is a chronic condition marked by recurring gastrointestinal inflammation.While immune,genetic,and environmental factors are well-studied,the gut virome has received less attention.This editorial highlights the work which investigates the gut virome’s role in IBD and its interactions with the bacterial microbiome and host immune system.The gut virome consists of bacteriophages,eukaryotic viruses,and endogenous retroviruses.Among these,Caudovirales bacteriophages are predominant and influence bacterial communities via lysogenic and lytic cycles.Eukaryotic viruses infect host cells directly,while endogenous retroviruses impact gene regulation and immune responses.In IBD,the virome shows distinct alterations,including an increased abundance of Caudovirales phages and reduced Microviridae diversity,suggesting a pro-inflammatory viral environment.Dysbiosis,chronic inflammation,and aberrant immune responses contribute to these changes by disrupting microbial communities and modifying virome composition.Phages affect bacterial dynamics through lysis,lysogeny,and horizontal gene transfer,shaping microbial adaptability and resilience.Understanding these interactions is crucial for identifying novel therapeutic targets and restoring microbial balance in IBD.
基金was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42077115,42377238,42307515)the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Shandong Province(ZR2021JQ13)+1 种基金the Hainan Provincial Key Research and Development Projects(ZDYF2022SHFZ018)the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF(GZC20232496).
文摘Microplastics(MPs)and antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs)pose significant challenges to the One Health framework due to their intricate and multifaceted ecological and environmental impacts.However,the understanding of how MP properties influence ARG prevalence in mariculture sediments remains limited.Herein,the polystyrene(PS)and polyvinyl chloride(PVC)MPs with different sizes(20-120μm and 0.5-2.0 mm)were selected to evaluate their impacts and underlying mechanisms driving ARGs dissemination.The results showed that PS and PVC MPs increased the relative abundance of ARGs by 1.41-2.50-fold and 2.01-2.84-fold,respectively,compared with control,particularly high-risk genes.The polymer type effect was identified as more influential than the size effect in driving the sediment resistome evolution.PVC shifted the microbial community assembly from stochastic to deterministic processes,thus enriching ARG host pathogens.Furthermore,the highly hydrophobic PS not only recruited the host bacteria colonization but also facilitated ARG exchange within the plastisphere.The exogenous additives released by PVC(e.g.,heavy metals,bisphenol A,and tridecyl ester)and the particles synergistically promoted ARG conjugative transfer by inducing oxidative stress and enhancing cell membrane permeability.These findings revealed how MPs characteristics facilitated the spread of ARGs in marine benthic ecosystems,underscoring the importance of mitigating MPs pollution to maintain mariculture ecosystem health,prevent zoonotic diseases,and balance global mariculture with ecological health.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42077289,42277197,and 41877422).
文摘Microorganisms play a critical role in the biotransformation of arsenic and the form which it exists in the environment. In this study, a methyl parathion-degrading bacterium Caballeronia jiangsuensis, isolated from an abandoned pesticide manufacturing plant, was used to analyze arsenic accumulation and transformation. The accumulation of trivalent organoarsenic compounds in C. jiangsuensis occurred to a greater extent than that of their pentavalent counterparts. The chromosome of C. jiangsuensis contains an arsenic gene island whose GC content is significantly lower than that of the genome, suggesting that the island was acquired via horizontal gene transfer. There was approximately 90%-99% similarity between the proteins encoded by the gene island and the corresponding sequence of the plasmid pkk5 from Burkholderia sp. KK1. The biotransformation of different arsenic species by C. jiangsuensis was subsequently analyzed. The results revealed that monomethylarsenic acid(MAs(Ⅴ)) was rapidly demethylated to arsenate with very small amounts of intermediate monomethylarsonous acid(MAs(Ⅲ)), whereas MAs(Ⅲ) was largely oxidized to MAs(Ⅴ) despite the occurrence of the gene arsI probably responsible for aerobic demethylation of MAs(Ⅲ) in C. jiangsuensis. In addition, dimethylarsenic acid was partly demethylated to arsenate. Horizontal gene transfer of ars operon from a plasmid to other bacteria represents an adaptation to a specific environment. This study provides a new perspective for understanding arsenic biogeochemical cycling.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31972521)the Fujian Agriculture and Forest University Program for Distinguished Young Scholar(No.XJQ2017001).
文摘The global dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs),especially via plasmid-mediated horizontal transfer,is becoming a pervasive health threat.While our previous study found that herbicides can accelerate the horizontal gene transfer(HGT)of ARGs in soil bacteria,the underlying mechanisms by which herbicides promote the HGT of ARGs across and within bacterial genera are still unclear.Here,the underlying mechanism associ-ated with herbicide-promoted HGT was analyzed by detecting intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)production,extracellular polymeric substance composition,cell membrane integrity and proton motive force combined with genome-wide RNA sequencing.Exposure to herbicides induced a series of the above bacterial responses to promote HGT except for the ROS response,including compact cell-to-cell contact by enhancing pilus-encoded gene expression and decreasing cell surface charge,increasing cell membrane permeability,and enhancing the proton motive force,providing additional power for DNA uptake.This study provides a mechanistic understanding of the risk of bacterial resistance spread promoted by herbicides,which elucidates a new perspective on nonantibiotic agrochemical acceleration of the HGT of ARGs.
