Only a fraction of bacterial genomes encode CRISPR-Cas systems but the selective causes of this variation are unexplained. How naturally virulent bacteriophages (phages) select for CRISPR immunity has...

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This structure of an archaeal tailed virus (arTV) provides detailed insights into arTV assembly and infection mechanisms.

Abstract. Climate shapes the biogeography of microbial and viral communities in the ocean. Among abiotic factors, temperature is one of the main drivers of

In contrast to living organisms, viruses were long thought to lack protein synthesis machinery and instead depend on host factors to translate viral transcripts. Here, we discover that giant DNA virus...

Our group previously recovered 64 bacterial and 5 archaeal metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from Amazonian forest and pasture soils and evaluated their genomic traits (1). Here, we formally announc...

The invention relates to a matrix-mediated algal cell culture system comprising a porous matrix, a microalgal cell culture comprising cells immobilised on the porous matrix, and a vector including a n...

Adherent-invasive strains of E. coli are commonly isolated from patients with Crohn’s disease. Here, the authors show that an AIEC harbours a hybrid Type IV secretion system (T4SS) that mediates pilin polymerization and biofilm formation in vivo.

npj Viruses - Unlocking the genomic repertoire of a cultivated megaphage

Germany is worldwide one of the largest hop (Humulus lupulus L.) producers, an essential crop for the brewing industry. However, infections caused by viruses and viroids can severely impact hop yield and quality. In 2019, citrus bark cracking viroid (CBCVd) – a highly aggressive pathogen in hop – was first reported in Germany, raising concerns about its spread and prompting a broader investigation of the German hop virome.To investigate the viro-diversity in German hops, we started with a pilot study in 2021 targeting three hopyards in the Hallertau region (Bavaria), where CBCVd was previously detected. This study was expanded in 2022 and 2023 to include other main hop growing regions of Tettnang (Baden-Wuerttemberg) and Elbe-Saale (Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia). Leaf samples were collected from hop as well as non-hop plants inside and outside the hopyard, pooled, and proceeded for double-stranded RNAs extraction. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) was used as a diagnostic tool, followed by RT-PCR confirmation. Our analysis identified four viruses infecting hops; hop latent virus (HpLV), hop mosaic virus (HpMV), apple mosaic virus (ApMV), arabis mosaic virus (ArMV) – and two viroids; hop latent viroid (HLVd) and CBCVd. HpLV, HpMV, and HLVd were consistently found across all targeted hopyards, while CBCVd was confined to the Hallertau region. ArMV was only detected in one hopyard at one sampling timepoint. ApMV was the only virus detected in both hop and non-hop plants. Additional analysis of hop pool datasets revealed the presence of other potential hop pathogens, i.e., fungi and bacteria. The results showed a low diversity of viruses and viroids infecting hops. However, this study provides a comprehensive overview on the major viruses and viroids in German hopyards. The results may serve as a useful resource for the development of disease management strategies in hop cultivation and highlight the valuable implementation of HTS in plant pathogen surveillance.

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Author summary Acinetobacter baumannii causes life-threatening and often antibiotic-resistant infections thereby posing a global threat. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for alternative treatments...

Take a look at the ponderosa pine and the many creatures that rely on it.