Etude de quatre lichens marins, maritime ou terrestre et des bactéries associées : Evaluation de la diversité bactérienne et recherche de métabolites d’intérêt

Efficiency of currently used antibiotics is worldwide decreasing at a worrying rate, while we are faced with new and emerging pathogens. The majority of active natural products are isolated from the Ascomycetes or from the Actinobacteria. Among the 10000 known antibiotics, more than half are produced by bacteria of one single genus, Streptomyces. It is therefore most interesting to search for novel active molecules in yet under explored niches, such as mutualistic microbial symbioses. Lichens are complex organisms harboring bacterial communities on the surface and, more rarely, inside their thalli and present a model to discover new biomolecules. Optimization of extraction conditions of lichens has been developed. Chemical profiling by LC / MS of nine lichens (2 green algae Roccella fuciformis and R. phycopsis and 7 cyanolichens: Lichina confinis, L. pygmaea, Leptogium lichenoides, Synalissa symphorea, Collema auriforme, C. cristatum and C. fuscovirens) were made and compared with a "Molecular network" approach. This has allowed to identify the chemical similarity between all cyanolichens and between two lichen species containing green algae. On the other hand, further chemical study on R. fuciformis and R. phycopsis was conducted and ten different compounds were isolated. Nine of them have been isolated and identified by NMR and mass fragmentation pathways have been highlighted for five of them. In situ localization of their major respective metabolites (erythrin and roccellic acid for R. phycopsis and erythrin, lepraric acid and acetylportentol for R. fuciformis) was performed and showed a specific location in the lichen thallus. We focused also on the cultivable bacterial communities associated to three lichens from Brittany coast (France) (Roccella fuciformis, Lichina confinis, L. pygmaea) and one inland lichen from Austria (Collema auriforme) to find new secondary metabolites of interest. The abundance and the diversity of the bacterial communities associated to these lichens were showed: 247 strains were isolated and identified by 16S rRNA gene analysis. More than 30% of all strains express potential bioactive compounds and 12% represent probably new species. The secondary metabolites patterns of their cultivable associated bacteria were studied (MOLA1488, Streptomyces sp. and MOLA1416, Hoeflea sp.) and some active secondary metabolites were isolated (e.g. dicetopiperazines, pyrrole alkaloïds, phenoxazine derivatives …) showing biological properties. Finally, to highlight potential interactions between lichens and their associated bacteria, an approach of culture (lichen extracts and bacteria) was performed from 4 most abundant bacterial strains associated with Roccella fuciformis to (1) assess the impact of major metabolites (compounds 4) of this lichen on the growth of these four strains by a an optimized method of viability using MTT; and also to evaluate (2) the ability to bioconversion of these four strains of lepraric acid and erythrin. These bacteria have shown the ability to metabolize erythrin in orsellinic acid, but none of the four tested metabolites has affected their growth.L'efficacité des antibiotiques actuellement utilisés dans le monde entier est en baisse à un rythme inquiétant. La majorité des produits actifs naturels sont isolés des ascomycètes ou des Actinobactéries. Parmi les 10 000 antibiotiques connus, plus de la moitié sont produits par des bactéries du genre Streptomyces. Il est donc intéressant de rechercher de nouvelles molécules actives dans des niches encore sous explorés, tels que les symbioses microbiennes mutualistes. Ainsi, les lichens sont des organismes complexes abritant des communautés bactériennes à la surface et, plus rarement, à l'intérieur de leurs thalles et constituent un modèle d’étude pour la découverte de nouvelles molécules d’intérêts. Une optimisation des conditions d'extraction des lichens a été développée. Le profilage chimique par LC / MS de neuf lichens (2 à algues vertes : Roccella fuciformis et R. phycopsis et de 7 cyanolichens: Lichina confinis, L. pygmaea, Leptogium lichenoides, Synalissa symphorea, Collema auriforme, C. cristatum et C. fuscovirens) ont été effectués et comparés avec des approches de «molecular network". Cela a permis de souligner la similitude chimique entre tous les cyanolichens d’une part et les espèces lichéniques à algues vertes d’autre part. Une étude chimique plus approfondie de R. fuciformis et R. phycopsis a été par la suite effectuée et dix composés différents ont été isolés et identifiés. Neuf d'entre eux ont été isolés et identifiés par RMN et des voies de fragmentation ont été proposés pour cinq d'entre eux. Une étude de localisation in situ de leurs métabolites majeurs respectifs (érythrine et acide roccellique pour R. phycopsis et érythrine, acide léprarique et acetylportentol pour R. fuciformis) a été réalisée et a démontré leur emplacement spécifique au sein des thalles lichéniques. Les communautés bactériennes cultivables associées à trois lichens de la côte bretonne (France) (Roccella fuciformis, Lichina confinis, L. pygmaea) et un lichen terrestre récolté en Autriche (Collema auriforme) ont été étudiées afin de trouver de nouveaux métabolites d'intérêts. L'abondance et la diversité des communautés bactériennes associées à ces lichens a été montré: 247 souches ont été isolées et identifiées par l’étude du gène de l'ARNr 16S. Ainis, plus de 30% de toutes les souches expriment des gènes permettant la production potentielle des composés bioactifs et 12% appartiennent probablement à de nouvelles espèces bactériennes. Les métabolites secondaires de deux bactéries cultivables associées ont été étudiés (MOLA1488, Streptomyces sp. et MOLA1416, Hoeflea sp.) et certains métabolites spécialisés actifs ont été isolés (des dicétopipérazines, des alcaloïdes, des dérivés phénoxazine par exemple ...) présentant des propriétés biologiques intéressantes. Enfin, pour mettre en évidence les interactions possibles entre les lichens et leurs bactéries associées, une approche de culture (extraits lichéniques et bactéries associées) a été réalisée à partir de 4 souches bactériennes les plus abondantes associées à Roccella fuciformis pour (1) évaluer l'impact de ces métabolites sur la croissance de ces quatre souches et également, (2) à évaluer la capacité de bioconversion de l'acide leprarique et de l’érythrine. Ces bactéries ont montré la capacité de bio-converser l’érythrine en acide orsellinique, mais aucun des quatre métabolites testés n’a affecté leur croissance

Lichens as natural sources of biotechnologically relevant bacteria

International audienceThe search for microorganisms from novel sources and in particular microbial symbioses represents a promising approach in biotechnology. In this context, lichens have increasingly become a subject of research in microbial biotechnology, particularly after the recognition that a diverse community of bacteria other than cyanobacteria is an additional partner to the traditionally recognized algae-fungus mutualism. Here, we review recent studies using culture-dependent as well as culture-independent approaches showing that lichens can harbor diverse bacterial families known for the production of compounds of biotechnological interest and that several microorganisms isolated from lichens, in particular Actinobacteria and Cyanobacteria, can produce a number of bioactive compounds, many of them with biotechnological potential

Littoral lichens as a novel source of potentially bioactive Actinobacteria

International audienceCultivable Actinobacteria are the largest source of microbially derived bioactive molecules. The high demand for novel antibiotics highlights the need for exploring novel sources of these bacteria. Microbial symbioses with sessile macro-organisms, known to contain bioactive compounds likely of bacterial origin, represent an interesting and underexplored source of Actinobacteria. We studied the diversity and potential for bioactive-metabolite production of Actinobacteria associated with two marine lichens (Lichina confinis and L. pygmaea; from intertidal and subtidal zones) and one littoral lichen (Roccella fuciformis; from supratidal zone) from the Brittany coast (France), as well as the terrestrial lichen Collema auriforme (from a riparian zone, Austria). A total of 247 bacterial strains were isolated using two selective media. Isolates were identified and clustered into 101 OTUs (98% identity) including 51 actinobacterial OTUs. The actinobacterial families observed were: Brevibacteriaceae, Cellulomonadaceae, Gordoniaceae, Micrococcaceae, Mycobacteriaceae, Nocardioidaceae, Promicromonosporaceae, Pseudonocardiaceae, Sanguibacteraceae and Streptomycetaceae. Interestingly, the diversity was most influenced by the selective media rather than lichen species or the level of lichen thallus association. The potential for bioactive-metabolite biosynthesis of the isolates was confirmed by screening genes coding for polyketide synthases types I and II. These results show that littoral lichens are a source of diverse potentially bioactive Actinobacteria

Linear Aminolipids with Moderate Antimicrobial Activity from the Antarctic Gram-Negative Bacterium Aequorivita sp.

The combination of LC-MS/MS based metabolomics approach and anti-MRSA activity-guided fractionation scheme was applied on the Gram-negative bacterium Aequorivita sp. isolated from shallow Antarctic sea sediment using a miniaturized culture chip technique. This methodology afforded the isolation of three new (1⁻3) and four known (4⁻7) N-terminal glycine- or serine-bearing iso-fatty acid amides esterified with another iso-fatty acid through their C-3 hydroxy groups. The chemical structures of the new compounds were elucidated using a set of spectroscopic (NMR, [α]D and FT-IR) and spectrometric (HRMS, HRMS/MS) methods. The aminolipids possessing an N-terminal glycine unit (1, 2, 4, 5) showed moderate in vitro antimicrobial activity against MRSA (IC50 values 22⁻145 μg/mL). This is the first in-depth chemistry and biological activity study performed on the microbial genus Aequorivita

Imaging the Unimaginable: Desorption Electrospray Ionization – Imaging Mass Spectrometry (DESI‑IMS) in Natural Product Research

Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) has recently established itself in the field of "spatial metabolomics." Merging the sensitivity and fast screening of high-throughput mass spectrometry with spatial and temporal chemical information, IMS visualizes the production, location, and distribution of metabolites in intact biological models. Since metabolite profiling and morphological features are combined in single images, IMS offers an unmatched chemical detail on complex biological and microbiological systems. Thus, IMS-type "spatial metabolomics" emerges as a powerful and complementary approach to genomics, transcriptomics, and classical metabolomics studies. In this review, we summarize the current state-of-the-art IMS methods with a strong focus on desorption electrospray ionization (DESI)-IMS. DESI-IMS utilizes the original principle of electrospray ionization, but in this case solvent droplets are rastered and desorbed directly on the sample surface. The rapid and minimally destructive DESI-IMS chemical screening is achieved at ambient conditions and enables the accurate view of molecules in tissues at the µm-scale resolution. DESI-IMS analysis does not require complex sample preparation and allows repeated measurements on samples from different biological sources, including microorganisms, plants, and animals. Thanks to its easy workflow and versatility, DESI-IMS has successfully been applied to many different research fields, such as clinical analysis, cancer research, environmental sciences, microbiology, chemical ecology, and drug discovery. Herein we discuss the present applications of DESI-IMS in natural product research

Combined genotyping, microbial diversity and metabolite profiling studies on farmed Mytilus spp. from Kiel Fjord

The blue mussel Mytilus is a popular food source with high economical value. Species of the M. edulis complex (M. edulis, M. galloprovincialis and M. trossulus) hybridise whenever their geographic ranges overlap posing difficulties to species discrimination, which is important for blue mussel aquaculture. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic structure of farmed blue mussels in Kiel Fjord. Microbial and metabolic profile patterns were studied to investigate a possible dependency on the genotype of the bivalves. Genotyping confirmed the complex genetic structure of the Baltic Sea hybrid zone and revealed an unexpected dominance of M. trossulus alleles being in contrast to the predominance of M. edulis alleles described for wild Baltic blue mussels. Culture-dependent and -independent microbial community analyses indicated the presence of a diverse Mytilus-associated microbiota, while an LC-MS/MS-based metabolome study identified 76 major compounds dominated by pigments, alkaloids and polyketides in the whole tissue extracts. Analysis of mussel microbiota and metabolome did not indicate genotypic dependence, but demonstrated high intraspecific variability of farmed mussel individuals. We hypothesise that individual differences in microbial and metabolite patterns may be caused by high individual plasticity and might be enhanced by e.g. nutritional condition, age and gender

Surface chemical defence of the eelgrass Zostera marina against microbial foulers

Plants rely on both mechanical and chemical defence mechanisms to protect their surfaces against microorganisms. The recently completed genome of the eelgrass Zostera marina, a marine angiosperm with fundamental importance for coastal ecosystems, showed that its re-adaptation from land to the sea has led to the loss of essential genes (for chemical communication and defence) and structural features (stomata and thick cuticle) that are typical of terrestrial plants. This study was designed to understand the molecular nature of surface protection and fouling-control strategy of eelgrass against marine epiphytic yeasts. Different surface extraction methods and comparative metabolomics by tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used for targeted and untargeted identification of the metabolite profiles of the leaf surface and the whole tissue extracts. Desorption electrospray ionization-imaging mass spectrometry (DESI-IMS) coupled with traditional bioassays revealed, for the first time, the unique spatial distribution of the eelgrass surface-associated phenolics and fatty acids, as well as their differential bioactivity against the growth and settlement of epiphytic yeasts. This study provides insights into the complex chemical defence system of the eelgrass leaf surface. It suggests that surface-associated metabolites modulate biotic interactions and provide chemical defence and structural protection to eelgrass in its marine environment

Molecular Networking-Based Metabolome and Bioactivity Analyses of Marine-Adapted Fungi Co-cultivated With Phytopathogens

Fungi represent a rich source of bioactive metabolites and some are marketed as alternatives to synthetic agrochemicals against plant pathogens. However, the culturability of fungal strains in artificial laboratory conditions is still limited and the standard mono-cultures do not reflect their full spectrum chemical diversity. Phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria have successfully been used in the activation of cryptic biosynthetic pathways to promote the production of new secondary metabolites in co-culture experiments. The aim of this study was to map the fungal diversity of Windebyer Noor, a brackish lake connected to Baltic Sea (Germany), to induce the chemical space of the isolated marine-adapted fungi by co-culturing with phytopathogens, and to assess their inhibitory potential against six commercially important phytopathogens. Out of 123 marine-adapted fungal isolates obtained, 21 were selected based on their phylogenetic and metabolite diversity. They were challenged with two phytopathogenic bacteria (Pseudomonas syringae and Ralstonia solanacearum) and two phytopathogenic fungi (Magnaporthe oryzae and Botrytis cinerea) on solid agar. An in-depth untargeted metabolomics approach incorporating UPLC–QToF–HRMS/MS-based molecular networking (MN), in silico MS/MS databases, and manual dereplication was employed for comparative analysis of the extracts belonging to nine most bioactive co-cultures and their respective mono-cultures. The phytopathogens triggered interspecies chemical communications with marine-adapted fungi, leading to the production of new compounds and enhanced expression of known metabolites in co-cultures. MN successfully generated a detailed map of the chemical inventory of both mono- and co-cultures. We annotated overall 18 molecular clusters (belonging to terpenes, alkaloids, peptides, and polyketides), 9 of which were exclusively produced in co-cultures. Several clusters contained compounds, which could not be annotated to any known compounds, suggesting that they are putatively new metabolites. Direct antagonistic effects of the marine-adapted fungi on the phytopathogens were observed and anti-phytopathogenic activity was demonstrated.The untargeted metabolomics approach combined with bioactivity testing allowed prioritization of two co-cultures for purification and characterization of marine fungal metabolites with crop-protective activity. To our knowledge, this is the first study employing plant pathogens to challenge marine-adapted fungi

Marine cyanolichens from different littoral zones are associated with distinct bacterial communities

The microbial diversity and function of terrestrial lichens have been well studied, but knowledge about the non-photosynthetic bacteria associated with marine lichens is still scarce. 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing was used to assess the culture-independent bacterial diversity in the strictly marine cyanolichen species Lichina pygmaea and Lichina confinis, and the maritime chlorolichen species Xanthoria aureola which occupy different areas on the littoral zone. Inland terrestrial cyanolichens from Austria were also analysed as for the marine lichens to examine further the impact of habitat/lichen species on the associated bacterial communities. The L. confinis and L. pygmaea communities were significantly different from those of the maritime Xanthoria aureola lichen found higher up on the littoral zone and these latter communities were more similar to those of the inland terrestrial lichens. The strictly marine lichens were dominated by the Bacteroidetes phylum accounting for 50% of the sequences, whereas Alphaproteobacteria, notably Sphingomonas, dominated the maritime and the inland terrestrial lichens. Bacterial communities associated with the two Lichina species were significantly different sharing only 33 core OTUs, half of which were affiliated to the Bacteroidetes genera Rubricoccus, Tunicatimonas and Lewinella, suggesting an important role of these species in the marine Lichina lichen symbiosis. Marine cyanolichens showed a higher abundance of OTUs likely affiliated to moderately thermophilic and/or radiation resistant bacteria belonging to the Phyla Chloroflexi, Thermi, and the families Rhodothermaceae and Rubrobacteraceae when compared to those of inland terrestrial lichens. This most likely reflects the exposed and highly variable conditions to which they are subjected daily

Molecular Networking-Based Metabolome and Bioactivity Analyses of Marine-Adapted Fungi Co-cultivated With Phytopathogens

Fungi represent a rich source of bioactive metabolites and some are marketed as alternatives to synthetic agrochemicals against plant pathogens. However, the culturability of fungal strains in artificial laboratory conditions is still limited and the standard mono-cultures do not reflect their full spectrum chemical diversity. Phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria have successfully been used in the activation of cryptic biosynthetic pathways to promote the production of new secondary metabolites in co-culture experiments. The aim of this study was to map the fungal diversity of Windebyer Noor, a brackish lake connected to Baltic Sea (Germany), to induce the chemical space of the isolated marine-adapted fungi by co-culturing with phytopathogens, and to assess their inhibitory potential against six commercially important phytopathogens. Out of 123 marine-adapted fungal isolates obtained, 21 were selected based on their phylogenetic and metabolite diversity. They were challenged with two phytopathogenic bacteria (Pseudomonas syringae and Ralstonia solanacearum) and two phytopathogenic fungi (Magnaporthe oryzae and Botrytis cinerea) on solid agar. An in-depth untargeted metabolomics approach incorporating UPLC–QToF–HRMS/MS-based molecular networking (MN), in silico MS/MS databases, and manual dereplication was employed for comparative analysis of the extracts belonging to nine most bioactive co-cultures and their respective mono-cultures. The phytopathogens triggered interspecies chemical communications with marine-adapted fungi, leading to the production of new compounds and enhanced expression of known metabolites in co-cultures. MN successfully generated a detailed map of the chemical inventory of both mono- and co-cultures. We annotated overall 18 molecular clusters (belonging to terpenes, alkaloids, peptides, and polyketides), 9 of which were exclusively produced in co-cultures. Several clusters contained compounds, which could not be annotated to any known compounds, suggesting that they are putatively new metabolites. Direct antagonistic effects of the marine-adapted fungi on the phytopathogens were observed and anti-phytopathogenic activity was demonstrated.The untargeted metabolomics approach combined with bioactivity testing allowed prioritization of two co-cultures for purification and characterization of marine fungal metabolites with crop-protective activity. To our knowledge, this is the first study employing plant pathogens to challenge marine-adapted fungi