Cylindrospermopsin biodegradation abilities of Aeromonas sp. isolated from Rusałka Lake

The occurrence of the cyanobacterial toxin cylindrospermopsin (CYN) in freshwater reservoirs is a common phenomenon. However, the biodegradation of this toxin in environmental samples has been observed only occasionally. In this work the biodegradation ability of cylindrospermopsin was investigated based on isolates from lakes with previous cyanotoxin history. Bacterial strains were identified based on the 16S rDNA and rpoD gene comparison. CYN biodegradation was monitored using the HPLC method. The R6 strain identified as Aeromonas sp. was documented as being capable of CYN removal. This biodegradation was dependent on the pH and temperature. Additionally, the stimulation of the growth of the R6 strain in the presence of CYN was indicated. Our discovery supports the hypothesis that (in analogy to the well-known phenomenon of microcystin biodegradation) in lakes dominated by potential CYN-producing cyanobacteria, the processes of microbial utilization of this toxin may occur

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Pinus uliginosa (Neumann) from the Pinus mugo complex

Taxonomic status of endangered peat-bog pine, Pinus uliginosa (Neumann) classified within the Pinus mugo complex, still remains to be elucidated. Here we present a complete chloroplast genome of P. uliginosa, to aid resolve its complex systematical position. The total genome size was 119,877 bp in length and contained a total of 112 genes, including 73 protein-coding genes, 35 tRNAs, and four rRNAs. The most of genes occur as a single copy. Five tRNA genes were duplicated from two to four times. Eighteen genes contain one intron, with a single gene containing two introns. No large inverted repeats were identified. The overall G + C content of P. uliginosa chloroplast genome is 38.5%

Analysis of spounaviruses as a case study for the overdue reclassification of tailed phages

Tailed bacteriophages are the most abundant and diverse viruses in the world, with genome sizes ranging from 10 kbp to over 500 kbp. Yet, due to historical reasons, all this diversity is confined to a single virus order-Caudovirales, composed of just four families: Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, Podoviridae, and the newly created Ackermannviridae family. In recent years, this morphology-based classification scheme has started to crumble under the constant flood of phage sequences, revealing that tailed phages are even more genetically diverse than once thought. This prompted us, the Bacterial and Archaeal Viruses Subcommittee of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), to consider overall reorganization of phage taxonomy. In this study, we used a wide range of complementary methods-including comparative genomics, core genome analysis, and marker gene phylogenetics-to show that the group of Bacillus phage SPO1-related viruses previously classified into the Spounavirinae subfamily, is clearly distinct from other members of the family Myoviridae and its diversity deserves the rank of an autonomous family. Thus, we removed this group from the Myoviridae family and created the family Herelleviridae-a new taxon of the same rank. In the process of the taxon evaluation, we explored the feasibility of different demarcation criteria and critically evaluated the usefulness of our methods for phage classification. The convergence of results, drawing a consistent and comprehensive picture of a new family with associated subfamilies, regardless of method, demonstrates that the tools applied here are particularly useful in phage taxonomy. We are convinced that creation of this novel family is a crucial milestone toward much-needed reclassification in the Caudovirales order.Peer reviewe

Taxonomy of prokaryotic viruses : 2017 update from the ICTV Bacterial and Archaeal Viruses Subcommittee

Peer reviewe

Taxonomy of prokaryotic viruses : 2018-2019 update from the ICTV Bacterial and Archaeal Viruses Subcommittee

This article is a summary of the activities of the ICTV's Bacterial and Archaeal Viruses Subcommittee for the years 2018 and 2019. Highlights include the creation of a new order, 10 families, 22 subfamilies, 424 genera and 964 species. Some of our concerns about the ICTV's ability to adjust to and incorporate new DNA- and protein-based taxonomic tools are discussed.Peer reviewe

Taxonomy of prokaryotic viruses: 2016 update from the ICTV bacterial and archaeal viruses subcommittee

The prokaryotic virus community is represented at the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) by the Bacterial and Archaeal Viruses Subcommittee. Since our last report [8], the committee composition has changed, and a large number of taxonomic proposals (TaxoProps) were submitted to the ICTV Executive Committee (EC) for approval.Peer reviewe

Characterization of ΦAGATE novel bacteriophage isolated from water and sediments of Góreckie Lake

Wydział Biologii: Instytut Biologii EksperymentalnejMikrobiologia ekosystemów wodnych jest od wielu lat obiektem szeroko zakrojonych badań. Większość dotychczas dostępnych danych pochodzi jednak z badań ekosystemów morskich, mniej jest natomiast danych na temat mikroorganizmów i ich roli w wodach słodkich. Otwiera się, więc szerokie pole dla badań środowisk jezior, rzek oraz mniejszych zbiorników wodnych. Jednym ze słabiej poznanych aspektów mikrobiologii środowisk wodnych jest obecność w nich wirusów, a także rola jaką pełnią w tych ekosystemach. Najpowszechniej występującymi w środowisku naturalnym wirusami są bakteriofagi. W trakcie badań nad ekosystemem mikroflorą Jeziora Góreckiego (jezioro eutroficzne w centralnej części Wielkopolskiego Parku Narodowego) odkryto bakteriofagi zakażające dwa izolaty bakterii z tego pochodzące z zbiornika. Jeden z nich, fag ΦAGATE infekujący Bacillus pumilus okazał się być przedstawicielem nowego, nie znanego jeszcze gatunku. Celem niniejszej pracy była charakterystyka zarówno molekularnych jak i morfologicznych oraz fizjologicznych aspektów biologii wyizolowanego faga. Poznano pełną sekwencję genomu faga ΦAGATE i przeprowadzono wstępną analizę proteomu. W związku z odnalezieniem w jego genomie sekwencji kodujących białka o potencjale aplikacyjnym (w tym hydrolazę kwasu poli-γ-glutaminowego) rozpoczęto też ocenę możliwości ich zastosowania.Microbiology of aquatic ecosystems has recently been a topic of extensive studies. Most of these studies are focused on marine environments. Only a small fraction of microbiological papers concern freshwater biota and the least explored topics are the presence of viruses in these systems and their role in limnetic or benthic ecosystems. The most common viruses in environment are bacteriophages. During the investigation of microflora of Góreckie Lake (an eutrophic lake in a central part of Wielkopolski National Park, Poland), bacteriophages infecting two strains originating from this reservoir were isolated. One of them, named ΦAGATE, turned out to be a member of a novel, unknown species. The aim of this study was characterization of molecular biology, morphology and physiology of this phage. During the investigation, full genome of the bacteriophage ΦAGATE was sequenced and preliminary data about its proteome were gathered. Also, activity of a selected enzyme (poly-γ-glutamate hydrolase), potentially useful in biotechnology, was assessed in order to determine perspectives of its future applications