Frontiers in Microbiology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15
Published: Sept. 10, 2024
The
McMurdo
Dry
Valleys
(MDVs)
of
Antarctica
are
a
mosaic
extreme
habitats
which
dominated
by
microbial
life.
MDVs
include
glacial
melt
holes,
streams,
lakes,
and
soils,
interconnected
through
the
transfer
energy
flux
inorganic
organic
material
via
wind
hydrology.
For
first
time,
we
provide
new
data
on
viral
community
structure
function
in
metagenomics
planktonic
benthic
mat
communities
Lakes
Bonney
Fryxell.
Viral
taxonomic
diversity
was
compared
across
lakes
ecological
investigated
characterizing
auxiliary
metabolic
genes
(AMGs)
predicting
hosts.
Our
suggest
that
differed
between
among
sites:
these
differences
were
connected
to
host
communities.
AMGs
associated
with
potential
augmentation
multiple
biogeochemical
processes
host,
most
notably
phosphorus
acquisition,
nitrogen
sulfur
oxidation,
photosynthesis.
genome
abundances
containing
mats,
indicating
site
specialization.
Using
procrustes
analysis,
also
identified
significant
coupling
bacterial
(
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
14(1)
Published: Aug. 29, 2023
Abstract
The
diverse
rumen
virome
can
modulate
the
microbiome,
but
it
remains
largely
unexplored.
Here,
we
mine
975
published
metagenomes
for
viral
sequences,
create
a
global
database
(RVD),
and
analyze
diversity,
virus-host
linkages,
potential
roles
in
affecting
functions.
Containing
397,180
species-level
operational
taxonomic
units
(vOTUs),
RVD
substantially
increases
detection
rate
of
viruses
from
compared
with
IMG/VR
V3.
Most
classified
vOTUs
belong
to
Caudovirales
,
differing
those
found
human
gut.
is
predicted
infect
core
including
fiber
degraders
methanogens,
carries
auxiliary
metabolic
genes,
thus
likely
impacts
ecosystem
both
top-down
bottom-up
manner.
findings
provide
useful
resources
baseline
framework
future
research
investigate
how
may
impact
digestive
physiology.
Microbiome,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
12(1)
Published: July 1, 2024
Abstract
Background
Fecal
microbiota
transplantation
(FMT)
and
fecal
virome
(FVT,
sterile
filtrated
donor
feces)
have
been
effective
in
treating
recurrent
Clostridioides
difficile
infections,
possibly
through
bacteriophage-mediated
modulation
of
the
gut
microbiome.
However,
challenges
like
variability,
costly
screening,
coupled
with
concerns
over
pathogen
transfer
(incl.
eukaryotic
viruses)
FMT
or
FVT
hinder
their
wider
clinical
application
less
acute
diseases.
Methods
To
overcome
these
challenges,
we
developed
methods
to
broaden
FVT’s
while
maintaining
efficacy
increasing
safety.
Specifically,
employed
following
approaches:
(1)
chemostat-fermentation
reproduce
bacteriophage
component
remove
viruses
(FVT-ChP),
(2)
solvent-detergent
treatment
inactivate
enveloped
(FVT-SDT),
(3)
pyronin-Y
inhibit
RNA
virus
replication
(FVT-PyT).
We
assessed
processed
FVTs
a
C.
infection
mouse
model
compared
them
untreated
(FVT-UnT),
FMT,
saline.
Results
FVT-SDT,
FVT-UnT,
FVT-ChP
reduced
incidence
mice
reaching
humane
endpoint
(0/8,
2/7,
3/8,
respectively)
FVT-PyT,
saline
(5/8,
7/8,
5/7,
significantly
load
colonizing
cells
associated
toxin
A/B
levels.
There
was
potential
elimination
colonization,
seven
out
eight
treated
FVT-SDT
testing
negative
qPCR.
In
contrast,
all
other
treatments
exhibited
continued
presence
.
Moreover,
results
were
supported
by
changes
microbiome
profiles,
cecal
cytokine
levels,
histopathological
findings.
Assessment
viral
engraftment
FMT/FVT
host-phage
correlations
analysis
suggested
that
phages
likely
an
important
contributing
factor
efficacy.
Conclusions
This
proof-of-concept
study
shows
specific
modifications
hold
promise
addressing
related
variability
risks.
Two
strategies
lead
limiting
colonization
mice,
solvent/detergent
chemostat
propagation
emerging
as
promising
approaches.
Environmental Microbiome,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
20(1)
Published: Jan. 13, 2025
Abstract
Background
Viruses
that
infect
prokaryotes
(phages)
constitute
the
most
abundant
group
of
biological
agents,
playing
pivotal
roles
in
microbial
systems.
They
are
known
to
impact
community
dynamics,
ecology,
and
evolution.
Efforts
document
diversity,
host
range,
infection
effects
bacteriophage
on
cell
metabolism
extremely
underexplored.
Phages
classified
as
virulent
or
temperate
based
their
life
cycles.
Temperate
phages
adopt
lysogenic
mode
infection,
where
genome
integrates
into
forming
a
prophage.
Prophages
enable
viral
replication
without
lysis,
often
contribute
novel
beneficial
traits
genome.
Current
phage
research
predominantly
focuses
lytic
phages,
leaving
significant
gap
knowledge
regarding
prophages,
including
biology,
ecological
roles.
Results
Here
we
develop
describe
Prophage-DB,
database
proteins,
associated
metadata
will
serve
resource
for
genomics
ecology.
To
create
database,
identified
characterized
prophages
from
genomes
three
largest
publicly
available
databases.
We
applied
several
state-of-the-art
tools
our
pipeline
annotate
these
viruses,
cluster
them,
taxonomically
classify
detect
respective
auxiliary
metabolic
genes.
In
total,
identify
characterize
over
350,000
35,000
Our
prophage
is
highly
representative
statistical
results
contains
diverse
set
archaeal
bacterial
hosts
which
show
wide
environmental
distribution.
Conclusion
Given
particularly
overlooked
merit
increased
attention
due
vital
implications
microbiomes
hosts,
created
Prophage-DB
advance
understanding
through
comprehensive
characterization
genomes.
propose
valuable
advancing
research,
offering
insights
taxonomy,
relationships,
genes,
Virology Journal,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
22(1)
Published: Jan. 30, 2025
Abstract
Background
Vibrio
parahaemolyticus
is
a
marine
bacterium
causing
seafood-associated
gastrointestinal
illness
in
humans
and
acute
hepatopancreatic
necrosis
disease
(AHPND)
shrimp.
Bacteriophages
have
emerged
as
promising
biocontrol
agents
against
V.
.
This
study
characterizes
phage
VPK8,
focusing
on
host
specificity,
efficiency
of
plating
(EOP)
variability
across
isolates
from
diverse
sources
other
species,
morphology,
genomic
features,
bacteriolytic
potential.
Methods
VPK8
was
isolated
blood
cockles
Thailand
using
mixed-host
approach
purified
via
the
double-layer
agar
method.
Host
specificity
evaluated
spot
assays
EOP
measurements
120
strains,
including
AHPND-associated,
clinical,
seafood
isolates.
Phage
morphology
characterized
by
transmission
electron
microscopy
(TEM),
while
features
were
analyzed
next-generation
sequencing.
Lytic
characteristics,
latent
period
burst
size,
determined
through
one-step
growth
curves,
bacterial
reduction
over
24-h.
Results
lytic
with
42,866
bp
linear
double-stranded
genome,
G
+
C
content
49.4%,
48
coding
sequences.
Phylogenetic
analysis
grouped
it
within
Autographiviridae
family,
showing
95.96%
similarity
to
vB_VpaP_MGD1.
Viral
proteomic
placed
Pseudomonadota
group.
Spot
indicated
broad
activity,
but
revealed
high
infectivity
clinical
isolates,
well
some
cholerae
mimicus
strains.
TEM
an
icosahedral
head
(~
60
nm)
short
tail.
At
multiplicity
infection
0.01,
exhibited
25
min,
size
115,
effectively
inhibited
reference
PSU5124
6
h,
maintaining
its
activity
stability
for
24
h.
Conclusions
provides
detailed
characterization
which
exhibits
targeted
selected
species.
Its
stable
performance,
rapid
replication,
safety
suggest
potential
phage-based
applications.
Further
studies
should
explore
vivo
efficacy
genetic
contributing
resistance
mechanisms,
enhancing
applicability
managing
-related
diseases.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: June 3, 2024
Abstract
Metabolic
syndrome
encompasses
amongst
other
conditions
like
obesity
and
type-2
diabetes
is
associated
with
gut
microbiome
(GM)
dysbiosis.
Fecal
microbiota
transplantation
(FMT)
has
been
explored
to
treat
metabolic
by
restoring
the
GM;
however,
concerns
on
accidentally
transferring
pathogenic
microbes
remain.
As
a
safer
alternative,
fecal
virome
(FVT,
sterile-filtrated
feces)
advantage
over
FMT
in
that
mainly
bacteriophages
are
transferred.
FVT
from
lean
male
donors
have
shown
promise
alleviating
effects
of
high-fat
diet
preclinical
mouse
study.
However,
still
carries
risk
eukaryotic
viral
infections.
To
address
this,
recently
developed
methods
applied
for
removing
or
inactivating
viruses
component
FVT.
Modified
FVTs
compared
unmodified
saline
diet-induced
model
C57BL/6
N
mice.
Contrasted
obese
control,
mice
administered
modified
(nearly
depleted
viruses)
exhibits
enhanced
blood
glucose
clearance
but
not
weight
loss.
The
improves
liver
pathology
reduces
proportions
immune
cells
adipose
tissue
non-uniform
response.
GM
analysis
suggests
bacteriophage-mediated
modulation
influences
outcomes.
Optimizing
these
approaches
could
lead
development
safe
bacteriophage-based
therapies
targeting
through
restoration.
Virus Research,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
349, P. 199450 - 199450
Published: Aug. 22, 2024
•
Examining
integrative
bioinformatics
methods
used
in
viral
interaction
research,
this
study
highlights
metagenomic
data
from
various
contexts.
Accurate
identification
depends
on
high-purity
genetic
material
extraction,
appropriate
NGS
platform
selection,
and
sophisticated
tools
like
VirPipe
VirFinder.
The
diversity
dynamics
of
communities
are
demonstrated
by
case
studies
a
variety
environments.
In
addition
to
speeding
up
the
discovery
new
viruses,
metagenomics
offers
thorough
understanding
virus-host
interactions
their
ecological
effects.
Metagenomics
has
been
greatly
accelerated
development
next-generation
sequencing
(NGS)
technologies,
which
allow
scientists
discover
describe
novel
microorganisms
without
need
for
conventional
culture
techniques.
efficiency
precision
analysis
further
improved
with
advent
AI-based
environments,
emphasizing
seasonal
geographical
variations
that
influence
populations.
This
review
provides
promising
framework
comprehending
complexity
hosts,
highlighting
transformational
potential
research.