Abstract
Chlamydiae are highly successful strictly intracellular bacteria associated with diverse eukaryotic hosts. Here we analyzed metagenome-assembled genomes of the “Genomes from Earth’s Microbiomes” initiative from diverse environmental samples, which almost double the known phylogenetic diversity of the phylum and facilitate a highly resolved view at the chlamydial pangenome. Chlamydiae are defined by a relatively large core genome indicative of an intracellular lifestyle, and a highly dynamic accessory genome of environmental lineages. We observe chlamydial lineages that encode enzymes of the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle and for light-driven ATP synthesis. We show a widespread potential for anaerobic energy generation through pyruvate fermentation or the arginine deiminase pathway, and we add lineages capable of molecular hydrogen production. Genome-informed analysis of environmental distribution revealed lineage-specific niches and a high abundance of chlamydiae in some habitats. Together, our data provide an extended perspective of the variability of chlamydial biology and the ecology of this phylum of intracellular microbes.
Highlights
Chlamydiae are highly successful strictly intracellular bacteria associated with diverse eukaryotic hosts
Despite the phylum-level diversity of chlamydiae, their intracellular lifestyle appears to be well-conserved as all cultured representatives share a unique developmental cycle consisting of alternation between an infectious extracellular stage, the elementary body (EB), and an intracellular replicative stage, the reticulate body (RB)[6]
In the face of the experimental challenges associated with the intracellular lifestyle and for a long time the lack of methods to genetically modify chlamydiae[12], genomics of cultured representatives has been of particular importance to understand chlamydial biology and host interaction[13,14,15,16]
Summary
Chlamydiae are highly successful strictly intracellular bacteria associated with diverse eukaryotic hosts. Phylogenomic analysis using a set of 43 conserved marker proteins confirmed that all MAGs are of chlamydial origin and distributed throughout the chlamydial species tree obtained with a reference dataset including published and few newly determined genome sequences (Fig. 1, Supplementary Data 1 and 2).
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.