不同光、温条件下野生宿主对噬藻体PP的光修复率

研究了1株野生宿主藻对UV-B损伤的噬藻体PP的光修复率,结果显示该野生宿主的光修复率显著高于实验室培养的坑形席藻(Phormidium foveolarumIU427)和鲍氏织线藻(Plectonema boryanum IU594)。不同理化条件(光质、光强、水温)下该野生宿主对经UV-B损伤的噬藻体PP光修复情况,结果表明:野生宿主的光修复率与UV-A强度、可见光强度、水温之间均呈显著正相关(P0.05);可见光所驱动的光修复能力明显高于UV-A所驱动的光修复,且修复率会在可见光强达到160μE.m-.2s-1时接近饱和。说明,自然条件下浅水湖泊中可见光介导的宿主光修复作用占主导地位,由于受水温和透明度的双重影响,野生宿主在秋季的修复能力最强,而在冬季的修复能力最弱。     

Characterization and genomic analysis of a plaque purified strain of cyanophage PP

Cyanophages are ubiquitous and essential components of the aquatic environment and play an important role in the termination of algal blooms. As such, they have attracted widespread interest. PP was the first isolated cyanophage in China, which infects Plectonema boryanum and Phormidium foveolarum. In this study, this cyanophage was purified three times by a double-agar overlay plaque assay and characterized. Its genome was extracted, totally sequenced and analyzed. Electron microscopy revealed a particle with an icosahedral head connected to a short stubby tail. Bioassays showed that PP was quite virulent. The genome of PP is a 42,480 base pair (bp), linear, double-stranded DNA molecule with 222 bp terminal repeats. It has high similarity with the known Pf-WMP3 sequence. It contains 41 open reading frames (ORFs), 17 of which were annotated. Intriguingly, the genome can be divided into two completely different parts, which differ both in orientation and function.     

Distribution of plasmids in cyanobacteria of the LPP group

Abstract The distribution of plasmid DNA has been studied in 23 strains and variants of non-heterocystous filamentous cyanobacteria that are susceptible to infection by the LPP-1 cyanophage (archetype). 21 have identical plasmid profiles and contain 3 plasmids of M _rs 0.9, 10 and approx. 12 · 10⁶ respectively. In one strain, Plectonema FS180, the plasmids have been designated pMP1, pMP2, and pMP3, respectively. pMP1 shows sequence homology with pMP2 and pMP3 but not with DNA from an LPP-type cyanophage. Plectonema UTEX 598 lacks the small plasmid only, while Plectonema UTEX 1541 is distinct amongst all these strains with 3 plasmids of M _rs 3, 10, and > 30 · 10⁶, respectively. The findings support the view that the majority of these strains may be independent isolates of a single species.     

HOST-RANGE,PLAQUE-MORPHOLOGY STUDIES OF CYANOPHAGE LPP-11

Transduction by temperate cyanophage plays an important role in understanding the effects of environmental pollution on genetic function. Using a new isolate, this paper illustrates the influence of contaminants and the rapid variations that result as a virus particle passes through successive hosts. Host-range and plaque-morphology, using an extended range of genetically-differing hosts, compares archetype LPP-1 cyanophage cultured on microbially contaminated hosts with bacteria-free cyanophage cultured on pure host strains. Microbial contamination can alter the host-range and serology of the cyanophage produced. It is suggested that bacteria are involved in the virus infection of cyanophycean hosts and that the study of host-range and plaque-morphology can aid in the biological characterization and segregation of mutants illustrating mechanisms of inter generic transfer of genetic material. It is shown that derivatives of archetype LPP-1, cultured on axenic hosts, possess a host-range, plaque-morphology and serology similar or identical to that of the temperate cyanophage, S3.     

Plasmid content and homology of 16 strains of filamentous,nonheterocystous cyanobacteria

We have developed several strain-specific, rapid, small-scale plasmid isolation procedures in order to characterize the plasmid profiles of 16 filamentous, nonheterocstous cyanobacteria. At least one distinct plasmid was found in eight strains, with seven of these containing two or more different plasmids. Eight strains were found to be without plasmid DNA. Both the large, 12.9 kb, and the small, 1.6 kb, plasmids fromPlectonema boryanum 581 were isolated, purified, and cloned. Southern blots of plasmid DNAs from the eight strains were probed with these cloned DNAs and also with ultra-pure plasmid DNA fromPhormidium liridum 426. Four strains ofP. boryanum (485, 581, 594, 1542) andP. luridum 426 have identical plasmid profiles, and plasmid homology is extensive.     

Novel virulent and temperate cyanophages predicted to infect Microcoleus associated with anatoxin-producing benthic mats

Cyanophages are crucial for regulating cyanobacterial populations, but their influence on anatoxin-producing Microcoleus mat dynamics remains unexplored. Here, we use metagenomics to explore phage presence in benthic mats from the Wolastoq|Saint John River (New Brunswick, Canada) and the Eel River (California, USA). We recovered multiple viral-like sequences associated with different putative bacterial hosts, including two cyanophage genomes with apparently different replication strategies. A temperate cyanophage was found integrated in the genomes of Microcoleus sp. 3 recovered from the Eel River and is phylogenetically related to Phormidium phages. We also recovered novel virulent cyanophage genomes from Wolastoq and Eel River mats that were dominated by anatoxin-producing Microcoleus species predicted to be the host. Despite the geographical distance, these genomes have similar sizes (circa 239 kbp) and share numerous orthologous genes with high sequence identity. A considerable reduction of the anatoxin-producing Microcoleus species in Wolastoq mats following the emergence of the virulent phage suggests that phage infections have an important role in limiting the abundance of this toxigenic cyanobacterium and releasing anatoxins into the surrounding water. Our results constitute the first report of cyanophages predicted to infect mat-forming Microcoleus species associated with anatoxin production.     

Genomic Analysis of Freshwater Cyanophage Pf-WMP3 Infecting Cyanobacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phormidium foveolarum</Emphasis>: The Conserved Elements for a Phage

Cyanophages are ecologically abundant, genetically diverse in aquatic environments, and affect the population and evolutionary trajectories of their hosts. After reporting the cyanophage Pf-WMP4 genome (Liu et al. in Virology 366:28–39, 2007), we hereby present a related cyanophage, Pf-WMP3, which also infects the freshwater cyanobacterium Phormidium foveolarum. The Pf-WMP3 genome contains 43,249 bp with 234 bp direct terminal repeats. The overall genome organization and core genes of the two phages are comparable to those of the T7 supergroup phages. Compared with Pf-WMP4, cyanophage Pf-WMP3 has diverged extensively at the DNA level; however, they are closely related at the protein level and genome architecture. The left arm genes for the two phages, which mainly encode the DNA replication machinery, are not conserved in the gene order. Whereas the right arm genes of the two phages coding for structural proteins show high similarity in amino acid sequences and modular architecture, indicating that they have retained similar development strategies. The differences in similarity levels between the left and right arm genes suggest that the structural genes are the most conserved elements for a phage. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

SURVEY OF SWIMMING POOL ALGAE OF THE PHOENIX, ARIZONA, METROPOLITAN AREA1

Thirteen genera of algae were collected and identified from 110 swimming pools in the metropolitan area of Phoenix, Arizona. They included seven cyanophytes (Calothrix, Lyngbya, Oscillatoria, Nostoc, Phormidium, Plectonema, Pleurocapsa), four chlorophytes (Chlamydomonas, Diogenes, Oocystis, Roya), and two chrysophytes (Pleurochloris, Nitzschia). Pleurochloris pyrenoidosa Pascher was the most common swimming pool alga, occurring in 67% of the pools sampled. Species of Phormidium and Plectonema were the next most abundant, with species of Chlorophyta least common, occurring in less than 5% of the swimming pools surveyed. Algae occurred in swimming pools under a wide range of physicochemical conditions. A correlation between physicochemical parameters monitored and the appearance of a particular algal species was not evident.     

Evidence for photosynthetic independence of viral multiplication in cyanophage LPP-1 infected cyanobacterium Phormidium uncinatum

Abstract Pigment decomposition, oxygen evolution and CO₂ fixation were measured in the cyanobacterium Phormidium uncinatum after infection with cyanophage LPP-1, under light and dark conditions. A gradual decrease in para benzoquinone supported O₂ evolution, chlorophyll a and phycocyanin level were noticed after 6 h of infection. These results demonstrated decreased photosynthetic activity of the host P. uncinatum prior to the start of LPP-1 multiplication. Metabolic inhibitor investigations confirmed that the cyanophage LPP-1 multiplication was independent of host photosynthesis.     

紫外光和日光对噬藻体PP活性的影响

分别研究了实验室条件卜紫外灯照射及不同季节中目光照射对噬藻体PP活性的影响。结果表明紫外光(UV-A和UV-B)对噬藻体PP有较强的致失活作用,并且其致失活作用强弱与波长有关。日光的作用下,夏季时噬藻体PP的日失活率为88．60％,冬季时为58．86％。同时发现不同季节中,尽管在某些时段的目光强度相似,但噬藻体PP失活率的差别却较大,这一现象可能是由于光质不同引起的。上述结果有助于解释淡水环境中噬藻体种群大小的季节性波动。     

Enhanced frequency of karyogamy in electrofusion of yeast protoplasts by means of preceding G1 arrest

Abstract The cellular glycogen pool and nitrate reductase activity were measured in the cyanobacterium Phormidium uncinatum after infection with cyanophage LPP-1, under both light and dark conditions. While dark incubation of the cyanobacterium reduced the glycogen level, the nitrate reductase (NR) activity remained almost unchanged. Furthermore, cyanophage multiplication enhances cellular glycogen level and NR activity in both illuminated and dark-incubated cyanobacterial cultures. Cyanophage-mediated increase in host nitrate assimilation appears to support the high protein demand for its reproductive cycle.     

Mesophilic cyanobacteria producing thermophilic restriction endonucleases

When searching for the site-specific endonucleases in several strains of Phormidium we made the following observations. Among the 16 strains that originated from 15 species of Phormidium, 12 produced one or more restriction enzymes, of which two produced the highly thermophilic restriction endonucleases PtaI and PpaAII with their optimum activity at 65-80 degrees C, which is far above the lethal temperature for the host microorganism (40 degrees C). These two temperature-resistant enzymes are isoschizomers of known BspMII and TaqI endonucleases, respectively. The presence of the thermophilic TaqI isoschizomer does not seem to play any role in the mesophilic host microorganism, which does not even contain an active cognate methyltransferase. Among the remaining 10 strains, six produced isoschizomers of endonucleases which we first described in cyanobacteria, namely: PfaAII (NdeI), PinBII and PtaI (BspMII), PlaAII (RsalI), PpaAII, PpeI (ApaI). Two enzymes, PauAII (AhaIII) and PfaAII (NdeI), belong to a group of a very rarely occurring isoschizomers. Out of 21 cyanobacterial endonucleases investigated by us, four were active in a wide range of temperatures (from 15 to 60 degrees C) which also extended the optimal growth temperature of the hosts. We assume that our observation on the presence of temperature-resistant restriction enzymes in mesophilic hosts supports the idea of horizontal gene transfer. Restriction modification systems may be an excellent tool for investigation of that phenomenon.     

Characterization of a Small Cryptic Plasmid,pPFl, from Phormidium foveolarum and Vector Construction

The 1509 bp cryptic plasmid, pPFl, from Phormidium foveolarum, a strain of filamentous cyanobacteria of the LPP group, was completely sequenced. The pPFl nucleotide sequence had 97.8% overall similarity with that of a small plasmid from Plectonema boryanum. The structural organization of pPFl and vector construction are discussed.     

营养条件对噬藻体PP感染席藻动力学的影响

本试验设计了从正常的AA培养基(CK组)到N和P含量只有正常AA培养基1/600的6种培养基.在25 ℃、2000 lx条件下将宿主席藻在6种培养基中培养8个月后,用显微直接计数法测定了席藻的生长曲线以及噬藻体PP感染宿主席藻的裂解周期与致死率,用离心法测定了噬藻体PP对宿主席藻的吸附率,用一步生长曲线法测定了噬藻体PP的释放量和裂解周期.结果表明: 提高N和P含量会促进宿主席藻的生长,统计分析也显示,在对数中期(第6天),高营养盐浓度中细胞密度显著高于低营养盐浓度中的密度;提高营养盐浓度噬藻体PP的吸附率会显著增高,主要表现为在AA中噬藻体PP的吸附率极显著高于其他组;同时6种培养基条件下噬藻体PP对席藻的致死率变化不大;随着营养水平的升高,噬藻体PP的潜伏期和裂解周期明显缩短,平均释放量显著增加,但裂解宿主的效率却没有显著变化.上述结果说明噬藻体PP对宿主藻的感染力会随着营养水平的提高而明显增强,并可能在水体富营养化进程中发挥着调控藻类种群更替的作用.     

Characterisation of Host Growth after Infection with a Broad-Range Freshwater Cyanopodophage

Freshwater cyanophages are poorly characterised in comparison to their marine counterparts, however, the level of genetic diversity that exists in freshwater cyanophage communities is likely to exceed that found in marine environments, due to the habitat heterogeneity within freshwater systems. Many cyanophages are specialists, infecting a single host species or strain; however, some are less fastidious and infect a number of different host genotypes within the same species or even hosts from different genera. Few instances of host growth characterisation after infection by broad host-range phages have been described. Here we provide an initial characterisation of interactions between a cyanophage isolated from a freshwater fishing lake in the south of England and its hosts. Designated ΦMHI42, the phage is able to infect isolates from two genera of freshwater cyanobacteria, Planktothrix and Microcystis. Transmission Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy indicate that ΦMHI42 is a member of the Podoviridae, albeit with a larger than expected capsid. The kinetics of host growth after infection with ΦMHI42 differed across host genera, species and strains in a way that was not related to the growth rate of the uninfected host. To our knowledge, this is the first characterisation of the growth of cyanobacteria in the presence of a broad host-range freshwater cyanophage.     

Chromophores of allophycocyanin and R-phycocyanin

The biliprotein allophycocyanin was purified from Phormidium luridum, Anabaena variabilis and Plectonema boryanum. R-phycocyanin was purified from Rhodymenia palmata. The chromophores were cleaved from the denatured protein by methanol hydrolysis. They were purified and crystallized as the dimethyl esters. Chromatographic and absorption-spectral (visible–ultraviolet and infrared) comparisons with reference material have established phycocyanobilin as the chromophore of allophycocyanin. Phycocyanobilin and phycoerythrobilin were shown to be the chromophores of R-phycocyanin.     

INTERACTION OF PLECTONEMA BORYANUM (CYANOPHYCEAE) AND THE LPP-CYANOPHAGES IN CONTINUOUS CULTURE1

Continuous culture techniques are used to study long-term population interactions between Plectonema boryanum Gomont, a filamentous bluegreen alga, and the LPP-viruses which infect it. After LPP-I (virulent cyanophage) infection of sensitive algae, 3 oscillations occur in cell density with concomitant oscillations in virus titer before final stabilization of both algal and viral concentrations. After LPP-ID and LPP-2 (temperate viruses) infection, oscillation in cell density occurred with burst of virus particles. Resistant algae always repopulated the chemostat; lysogeny was not established. The interaction between Plectonema that was resistant to virus infection and the 3 LPP-cyanophages resulted in rapid elimination of the viruses from the chemostat in the effluent. When lysogenic P. boryanum was tested, a law population of virus was present in the chemostat throughout the incubation period indicative of spontancous induction. Clones of lysogenic algae were isolated.     

Suppression of Rice Immunity by Xanthomonas oryzae Type III Effector Xoo2875

Single-stranded plasmid DNA of pPF1 from Phormidium foveolarum that was specifically degraded by S1 nuclease was detected by Southern hybridization. This is also the case of the homologous plasmid pPBl from Plectonema boryanum. These observations suggest that such small cryptic plasmids as pPF1 and pPB1, both from Gram-negative and filamentous cyanobacteria, replicate by a rolling circle mechanism in their living cells.     

新型聚球藻噬藻体Yong-L2-223的分离及基因组分析

【目的】噬藻体(cyanophages)是特异性侵染蓝藻(cyanobacteria)的病毒，广泛分布于各类水体中，在调节蓝藻种群动态和密度、推动生物地球水生生态系统循环中起着重要作用。本研究的目的在于分离、鉴定噬藻体。【方法】本研究以海洋聚球藻(Synechococcus sp.) PCC 7002为指示宿主，从淡水水样中分离培养一株新型噬藻体Yong-L2-223，对其进行了宿主范围实验、全基因组测序、基因功能注释和系统进化分析。【结果】针对31株供试蓝藻的宿主范围实验，结果除指示藻PCC 7002 [属于聚球藻目(Synechococcales)]外，Yong-L2-223能够感染2株淡水蓝藻，分别是来源于滇池的绿色微囊藻(Microcystis viridis) FACHB-1342 [属于色球藻目(Chroococcales)]和水华束丝藻(Aphanizomenon flos-aquae)FACHB-1209[属于念珠藻目(Nostocales)]。既可在高盐条件下感染海洋蓝藻，又可在低盐条件下感染淡水蓝藻，Yong-L2-223具有广盐性。透射电镜观察表明，Yong-L2...     

Observation of microplasmodesmata in both heterocyst-forming and non-heterocyst forming filamentous cyanobacteria by freeze-fracture electron microscopy

Structures which may establish cytoplasmic continuity between adjacent cells of filamentous cyanobacteria have been observed by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. They are visible in the septum region of the plasma membrane as pits on the E-face (EF) and corresponding protrusions on the P-face (PF). Between 100 and 250 of these structures, termed microplasmodesmata, were present between adjacent vegetative cells in all four strains of heterocyst-forming filamentous cyanobacteria, Anabaena cylindrica Lemm, A. variabilis (IUCC B377), A. variabilis Kütz. (ATCC 29413) and Nostoc muscorum, examined. Only 30–40 microplasmodesmata were observed between adjacent cells in two species, Phormidium luridum and Plectonema boryanum, that do not form heterocysts. The results suggest that in species that form heterocysts a greater degree of cytoplasmic continuity is established, presumably to facilitate the exchange of metabolites. In species capable of forming heterocysts, the number of microplasmodesmata per septum between two adjacent vegetative cells remained constant whether the filaments were grown in the presence of NH₄ and lacked heteroxysts or under N₂-fixing conditions and contained heterocysts. When a vegetative cell differentiates into a heterocyst, about 80% of the existing microplasmodesmata are destroyed as the poles of the cell become constricted into narrow necks leaving smaller areas of contact with the adjacent vegetative cells.