Genomic evidence of symbiotic adaptations in fungus-associated bacteria

Summary: Fungi harbor diverse bacteria that engage in various relationships. While these relationships potentially influence fungal functioning, their underlying genetic mechanisms remain unexplored. Here, we aimed to elucidate the key genomic features of fungus-associated bacteria (FaB) by comparin...

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Main Authors: Daniyal Gohar, Kadri Põldmaa, Mari Pent, Saleh Rahimlou, Klara Cerk, Duncan Y.K. Ng, Falk Hildebrand, Mo Bahram
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:iScience
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225005140
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author Daniyal Gohar
Kadri Põldmaa
Mari Pent
Saleh Rahimlou
Klara Cerk
Duncan Y.K. Ng
Falk Hildebrand
Mo Bahram
author_facet Daniyal Gohar
Kadri Põldmaa
Mari Pent
Saleh Rahimlou
Klara Cerk
Duncan Y.K. Ng
Falk Hildebrand
Mo Bahram
author_sort Daniyal Gohar
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Fungi harbor diverse bacteria that engage in various relationships. While these relationships potentially influence fungal functioning, their underlying genetic mechanisms remain unexplored. Here, we aimed to elucidate the key genomic features of fungus-associated bacteria (FaB) by comparing 163 FaB genomes to 1,048 bacterial genomes from other hosts and habitats. Our analyses revealed several distinctive genomic features of FaB. We found that FaB are enriched in carbohydrate transport/metabolism- and motility-related genes, suggesting an adaptation for utilizing complex fungal carbon sources. They are also enriched in genes targeting fungal biomass, likely reflecting their role in recycling and rebuilding fungal structures. Additionally, FaB associated with plant-mutualistic fungi possess a wider array of carbon-acquisition enzymes specific to fungal and plant substrates compared to those residing with saprotrophic fungi. These unique genomic features highlight FaB’ potential as key players in fungal nutrient acquisition and decomposition, ultimately influencing plant-fungal symbiosis and ecosystem functioning.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Elsevier
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series iScience
spelling doaj-art-9c3bd4790f7f4ecf8bb1ae1fb76fb9d52025-08-20T03:08:22ZengElsevieriScience2589-00422025-04-0128411225310.1016/j.isci.2025.112253Genomic evidence of symbiotic adaptations in fungus-associated bacteriaDaniyal Gohar0Kadri Põldmaa1Mari Pent2Saleh Rahimlou3Klara Cerk4Duncan Y.K. Ng5Falk Hildebrand6Mo Bahram7Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi St. 2, 50409 Tartu, Estonia; Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA; Corresponding authorInstitute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi St. 2, 50409 Tartu, Estonia; Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51003 Tartu, EstoniaInstitute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi St. 2, 50409 Tartu, EstoniaDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USAGut Microbes & Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UQ Norfolk, UK; Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ Norfolk, UKGut Microbes & Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UQ Norfolk, UKGut Microbes & Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UQ Norfolk, UK; Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ Norfolk, UKDepartment of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, 4200 Slagelse, Denmark; Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Ulls väg 16, 756 51 Uppsala, Sweden; Corresponding authorSummary: Fungi harbor diverse bacteria that engage in various relationships. While these relationships potentially influence fungal functioning, their underlying genetic mechanisms remain unexplored. Here, we aimed to elucidate the key genomic features of fungus-associated bacteria (FaB) by comparing 163 FaB genomes to 1,048 bacterial genomes from other hosts and habitats. Our analyses revealed several distinctive genomic features of FaB. We found that FaB are enriched in carbohydrate transport/metabolism- and motility-related genes, suggesting an adaptation for utilizing complex fungal carbon sources. They are also enriched in genes targeting fungal biomass, likely reflecting their role in recycling and rebuilding fungal structures. Additionally, FaB associated with plant-mutualistic fungi possess a wider array of carbon-acquisition enzymes specific to fungal and plant substrates compared to those residing with saprotrophic fungi. These unique genomic features highlight FaB’ potential as key players in fungal nutrient acquisition and decomposition, ultimately influencing plant-fungal symbiosis and ecosystem functioning.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225005140GenomicsMicrobial genomicsMicrobial metabolismMicrobiologyMycology
spellingShingle Daniyal Gohar
Kadri Põldmaa
Mari Pent
Saleh Rahimlou
Klara Cerk
Duncan Y.K. Ng
Falk Hildebrand
Mo Bahram
Genomic evidence of symbiotic adaptations in fungus-associated bacteria
iScience
Genomics
Microbial genomics
Microbial metabolism
Microbiology
Mycology
title Genomic evidence of symbiotic adaptations in fungus-associated bacteria
title_full Genomic evidence of symbiotic adaptations in fungus-associated bacteria
title_fullStr Genomic evidence of symbiotic adaptations in fungus-associated bacteria
title_full_unstemmed Genomic evidence of symbiotic adaptations in fungus-associated bacteria
title_short Genomic evidence of symbiotic adaptations in fungus-associated bacteria
title_sort genomic evidence of symbiotic adaptations in fungus associated bacteria
topic Genomics
Microbial genomics
Microbial metabolism
Microbiology
Mycology
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225005140
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AT klaracerk genomicevidenceofsymbioticadaptationsinfungusassociatedbacteria
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