Complexity of the lichen symbiosis revealed by metagenome and transcriptome analysis of Xanthoria parietina

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Lichens are composite, symbiotic associations of fungi, algae, and bacteria that result in large, anatomically complex organisms adapted to many the world's most challenging environments. How such intricate, self-replicating lichen architectures develop from simple microbial components remains unknown because their recalcitrance experimental manipulation. Here, we report a metagenomic metatranscriptomic analysis Xanthoria parietina at different developmental stages. We identified 168 genomes symbionts lichen-associated microbes across sampled thalli, including representatives green three classes 14 bacterial phyla. By analyzing occurrence individual species thalli diverse environments, defined both substrate-specific core lichen. Metatranscriptomic principal fungal symbiont stages lichen, compared with axenically grown fungus, revealed differential gene expression profiles indicative lichen-specific transporter functions, specific cell signaling, transcriptional regulation, secondary metabolic capacity. Putative immunity-related proteins structurally conserved secreted resembling pathogen effectors were also identified, consistent role for immunity modulation morphogenesis.

Language: Английский

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Co-inoculation of fungi and desert cyanobacteria facilitates biological soil crust formation and soil fertility

Frontiers in Microbiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15

Published: April 8, 2024

The inoculation of cyanobacteria for enriching soil nutrients and forming biological crusts (BSCs) is considered an effective means to restore degraded soil. However, there are limited studies on the application co-inoculation fungi remediation. In this study, a high exopolysaccharide-secreting Zh2 was isolated from lichen BSCs in Hobq Desert, co-inoculated with cyanobacterial strain identified as Phormidium tenue different proportions form sand during 35 days incubation period. Results revealed significant differences crust biomass properties among cyanobacterial/fungal ratios. Microbial biomass, nutrient content enzyme activities were higher than those inoculated alone. contributed fulvic-like accumulation, significantly increased humic-like humification. Redundancy analysis showed that positively correlated urease phosphatase, fulvic-like. Meanwhile, contents total carbon, nitrogen humic-like, catalase sucrase. Cyanobacteria play distinct roles improving fertility accumulating dissolved organic matter. This study provides new insights into effects inoculations formation development cyanobacterial-fungus complex crusts, offering novel method accelerating induced surface sand.

Language: Английский

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Are lichens biocompasses? Revisiting an old prediction using new techniques

Plant Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 19, 2025

Abstract Abiotic factors influence not only vertical distributions of epiphytes, but also their radial positioning, such as around tree trunks. Due to planetary patterns solar incidence, the equator‐facing trunk portions receive direct sunlight, creating restrictive microclimatic conditions. Conversely, pole‐facing remain shaded, providing optimal conditions for some epiphytes. Since microhabitats are continuous, distribution epiphytes involves directional (compass‐derived) data, requiring circular analytical methods. However, assessments unexplored avascular In southern hemisphere, we investigated all lichen crustose and foliose thalli occurring on concentric trunks a Syagrus oleracea population. We hypothesized that: (1) both types will orient southward, zone; (2) do differ in preferred direction, indicating stronger microenvironmental than interaction filter; (3) other variables (height, phorophyte size, canopy cover) affect orientation, which is primarily governed by azimuth. address these questions using statistics, including direction tests, between‐sample comparisons, linear‐circular regressions. surveyed 845 (180 crustose, 665 foliose). The lichens were non‐uniformly distributed oriented with similar distributions. Radial orientation was unaffected height, cover, or confirming azimuth primary determinant orientation. These results demonstrate how abiotic conditions, driven patterns, indirectly determine niche occupation fine dimension trunks, offering new insights into epiphyte ecology.

Language: Английский

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Regulation of symbiotic interactions and primitive lichen differentiation by UMP1 MAP kinase in Umbilicaria muhlenbergii

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Nov. 1, 2023

Lichens are of great ecological importance but mechanisms regulating lichen symbiosis not clear. Umbilicaria muhlenbergii is a lichen-forming fungus amenable to molecular manipulations and dimorphic. Here, we established conditions conducive symbiotic interactions differentiation showed the UMP1 MAP kinase in development. In initial biofilm-like complexes, algal cells were interwoven with pseudohyphae covered extracellular matrix. After longer incubation, fungal-algal complexes further differentiated into primitive thalli melanized cortex-like pseudoparenchyma-like tissues containing photoactive cells. Mutants deleted blocked pseudohyphal growth development lichens. Invasion dividing mother that contributes layer organization lichens was observed ump1 mutant. Overall, these results regulatory roles suitability U. as model for studying symbiosis.

Language: Английский

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Advancements in double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) technology for effective management of forest insect pests

Southern Forests a Journal of Forest Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 19

Published: Dec. 11, 2024

AbstractThe emergence of forest insects as a result climatic changes presents traditional management strategies with significant challenges. RNA interference (RNAi) has attracted attention possible innovative conservation strategy. By eliciting gene silencing double-stranded (dsRNA), RNAi can effectively control insect pests, especially those belonging to the order Coleoptera. However, implementation in pest is hindered by varying efficacy, target selection, dsRNA design and delivery techniques, particularly for long-lived endophagous such bark beetles Asian long-horned beetles. This review examines development pest-combating systems nanoparticles, symbiont-mediated, cationic liposome-assisted plant-mediated delivery. The study highlights need risk assessments protection products (FPPs) using suggests integrating off-target prediction capabilities based on sequence complementarity analysis. Despite obstacles, shows promise controlling wood-boring beetles, additional research could boost its effectiveness against these insects.Keywords: Coleopteraforest productsRNAi deliveryRNA (RNAi)wood-boring

Language: Английский

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Genomic analysis of Coccomyxa viridis, a common low-abundance alga associated with lichen symbioses

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Dec. 2, 2023

Abstract Lichen symbiosis is centered around a relationship between fungus and photosynthetic microbe, usually green alga. In addition to their main partner (the photobiont), lichen symbioses can contain additional algae present in low abundance. The biology of these the way they interact with rest symbionts remains largely unknown. Here we first genome sequence non-photobiont lichen-associated Coccomyxa viridis was unexpectedly found 12% publicly available metagenomes. With few exceptions, members clade occur lichens as non-photobionts, potentially growing thalli endophytically. 45.7 Mbp C. assembled into 18 near chromosome-level contigs, making it one most contiguous genomic assemblies for any algae. Comparing its close relatives revealed presence traits associated lifestyle. provides new resource exploring evolution symbiosis, how symbiotic lifestyles shaped

Language: Английский

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Scientific telephone: The cautionary tale of the global coverage of lichens

BioScience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 74(7), P. 473 - 477

Published: July 1, 2024

Scientific history has many examples of profound statements that are later found to be unsubstantiated. The consequences such misinformation can dire. In the present article, we a case where an unevidenced estimate global lichen coverage proliferated through both scientific literature and popular media. We traced this non-peer-reviewed publication from 1987. 76 academic articles (collectively cited 4125 times) 13 other documents citing statistic, citation chains without source attribution, instances number or context was changed. also statistic 37 times in media, which is especially concerning, given these media communicate science broader public. demonstrate how statement spread, change time, ultimately repeated demand for evidence. hope unplugs telephone provides cautionary tale researchers ensure critical evaluation communication practices.

Language: Английский

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De Novo Genome Assembly of Toniniopsis dissimilis (Ramalinaceae, Lecanoromycetes) from Long Reads Shows a Comparatively High Composition of Biosynthetic Genes Putatively Involved in Melanin Synthesis

Genes, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(8), P. 1029 - 1029

Published: Aug. 5, 2024

Lichens have developed numerous adaptations to optimize their survival in various environmental conditions, largely by producing secondary compounds the fungal partner. They often antibiotic properties and are involved protection against intensive UV radiation, pathogens, herbivores. To contribute knowledge of arsenal a crustose lichen species, we sequenced assembled genome

Language: Английский

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Multipartite complexity of the lichen symbiosis revealed by metagenome and transcriptome analysis of Xanthoria parietina

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 17, 2024

Abstract Lichens are composite symbiotic associations of fungi, algae, and bacteria that result in large, anatomically complex organisms adapted to many the world’s most challenging environments. How such intricate, self-replicating lichen architectures develop from simple microbial components remains unknown because their recalcitrance experimental manipulation. Here we report a metagenomic metatranscriptomic analysis Xanthoria parietina at different developmental stages. We identified 168 genomes symbionts lichen-associated microbes within thallus, including representatives green three classes 14 bacterial phyla. By analyzing occurrence individual species across thalli diverse environments, defined both substrate-specific core lichen. Meta-transcriptomic principal fungal symbiont stages lichen, compared axenically grown fungus, revealed differential gene expression profiles indicative lichen-specific transporter functions, specific cell signalling, transcriptional regulation secondary metabolic capacity. Putative immunity-related proteins structurally conserved secreted resembling pathogen effectors were also identified, consistent with role for immunity modulation morphogenesis.

Language: Английский

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Genome‐wide differentiation corresponds to climatic niches in two species of lichen‐forming fungi

Environmental Microbiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 26(10)

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

Lichens can withstand fluctuating environmental conditions such as hydration-desiccation cycles. Many species distribute across climate zones, suggesting population-level adaptations to freezing and drought. Here, we aim understand how affects population genomic patterns in lichenized fungi. We analysed structure along elevational gradients closely related Umbilicaria phaea (North American; two gradients) pustulata (European; three gradients). All showed clear breaks splitting populations into low-elevation (Mediterranean zone) high-elevation (cold temperate zone). A total of 3301 SNPs U. 138 were driven fixation between the ends gradients. The difference is likely due differences recombination rate: sexually reproducing has a higher rate than primarily asexually pustulata. Cline analysis revealed allele frequency transitions all at approximately 0°C, coinciding with transition Mediterranean cold strong driver differentiation. Genomic scans further confirmed temperature-related selection targets. Both similar differentiation overall, but different selected alleles indicate convergent adaptation freezing. Our results enrich our knowledge fungal functions temperature climate, genomics, responses heterogeneity.

Language: Английский

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