Genomic analysis of three sponge-associated Arthrobacter Antarctic strains, inhibiting the growth of Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria by synthesizing volatile organic compounds.
In this work we analyzed the ability of three Arthrobacter strains (namely TB23, TB26 and CAL618), which were isolated from the Antarctic sponges Haliclonissa verrucosa and Lyssodendrix nobilis, to specifically inhibit the growth of a panel of 40 Burkholderia cepacia complex strains, representing a major cause of infections in patients that are affected by Cystic Fibrosis. The inhibitory activity was due to the synthesis of antimicrobial compounds, very likely volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and was partially dependent on the growth media that were used for Antarctic strains growth. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that two of them (i.e. CAL 618 and TB23) were very close and very likely belonged to the same Arthrobacter species, whereas the strain TB26 was placed in a distant branch. The genome of the strains TB26 and CAL618 was also sequenced and compared with that of the strain TB23. The analysis revealed that TB23 and CAL618 shared more genomic properties (GC content, genome size, number of genes) than with TB26. Since the three strains exhibited very similar inhibition pattern vs Bcc strains, it is quite possible that genes involved in the biosynthesis of antimicrobial compounds very likely belong to the core genome.
Laboratory of Microbial and Molecular Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy; Institute of Protein Biochemistry, National Research Council, Via P. Castellino, 111, I-80134 Naples, Italy.
Valerio
V
Orlandini
Laboratory of Microbial and Molecular Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy.
Isabel
I
Maida
Laboratory of Microbial and Molecular Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy.
Marco
M
Fondi
Laboratory of Microbial and Molecular Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy.
Elena
E
Perrin
Laboratory of Microbial and Molecular Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy.
Maria Cristiana
MC
Papaleo
Laboratory of Microbial and Molecular Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy.
Emanuele
E
Bosi
Institute of Protein Biochemistry, National Research Council, Via P. Castellino, 111, I-80134 Naples, Italy.
Donatella
D
de Pascale
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy; School of Biotechnological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario M. S. Angelo, Via Cintia, I-80126 Naples, Italy.
Maria Luisa
ML
Tutino
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (DiSBA-CIBAN), University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontrès 31, I-98166 Messina, Italy.
Luigi
L
Michaud
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (DiSBA-CIBAN), University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontrès 31, I-98166 Messina, Italy.
Angelina
A
Lo Giudice
Laboratory of Microbial and Molecular Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy. Electronic address: renato.fani@unifi.it.
Renato
R
Fani
D000818:Animals; D001173:Arthrobacter / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D042602:Burkholderia cepacia complex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D023281:Genomics; D010802:Phylogeny; D011161:Porifera / Q000382:microbiology*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
Arthrobacter; Burkholderia; Cystic fibrosis; Pangenome; VOCs